Punjab Police Arrest 77 Drug Smugglers in 290 Raids on 222nd Day of Statewide Anti-Drug Campaign

Chandigarh, October 9, 2025: Continuing the intensive crackdown against narcotics under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s “Yudh Nashian Virudh” initiative, Punjab Police carried out raids at 290 locations on Thursday, resulting in the arrest of 77 drug traffickers and registration of 59 FIRs across the state. This brings the total number of smugglers apprehended in 222 days to 32,432.

The operations led to the recovery of 17.7 kg of heroin, 501 grams of opium, 26,983 intoxicant tablets and capsules, and Rs 15.09 lakh in cash linked to drug trade.

Chief Minister Mann has directed the state’s Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners, and Senior Superintendents of Police to continue efforts toward making Punjab a drug-free state. A five-member Cabinet Sub-Committee, headed by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, has been established to monitor the campaign’s progress.

More than 1,000 police personnel, divided into 120 teams and supervised by 62 gazetted officers, carried out Thursday’s raids. Authorities also checked 311 suspicious individuals during the day-long operation.

The state government is implementing a three-pronged Enforcement, De-addiction, and Prevention (EDP) strategy to tackle the drug menace comprehensively. As part of the de-addiction initiative, police convinced 27 individuals to undergo rehabilitation and treatment on Thursday.