Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Seeking to choke off the financial lifelines of narcotics trafficking, Punjab Police has launched a dedicated three-day operation across the state aimed at identifying and acting against hawala operators allegedly linked to the illegal drug economy.
The campaign forms the latest phase of the state’s ongoing anti-drug initiative, Yudh Nashian Virudh, which has increasingly focused on tracking the money generated through drug trafficking rather than limiting action solely to the seizure of narcotics.
Police officials said underground financial channels have long been used to move proceeds from the drug trade, helping criminal networks conceal earnings and fund further illegal activities. The newly launched operation is intended to expose and dismantle these mechanisms.
Data released by the police indicate that enforcement efforts have already resulted in the arrest of 73 individuals accused of operating hawala networks connected to drug-related transactions. Investigators have also seized approximately ₹10 crore believed to be associated with such illegal financial dealings.
Authorities have simultaneously intensified efforts to identify assets suspected to have been acquired through drug proceeds. Since 2022, properties and assets worth more than ₹830 crore have been frozen under provisions of the NDPS Act, reflecting the state’s strategy of targeting the economic foundations of organized crime.
Officials noted that enforcement agencies have recovered over ₹20 crore in suspected drug money since March this year alone. During the same period, 1,727 proposals recommending the freezing of properties linked to narcotics-related cases received approval from the competent authority.
Senior police officers said the crackdown is designed to ensure that those benefiting financially from the drug trade face consequences alongside traffickers and suppliers. They stressed that following financial trails has become an essential component of modern anti-narcotics investigations.
Punjab Police reiterated its commitment to a zero-tolerance policy against drugs and related criminal activities. According to officials, sustained action against illicit financial networks, illegal assets and money laundering channels remains critical to weakening organized drug syndicates operating in the region.
The department said efforts would continue to focus on both enforcement and financial investigations as part of a broader strategy to curb drug trafficking and strengthen the state’s campaign for a drug-free Punjab.
