Chandigarh, June 17, 2025 — In a sweeping and relentless crackdown on narcotics, the Punjab Police has marked 108 days of its statewide anti-drug campaign “Yudh Nashian Virudh,” launched under the direction of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. The campaign continues to intensify, with 128 more drug smugglers arrested in the past 24 hours, pushing the total number of arrests to a staggering 17,897 since the drive began.
The latest statewide operation, carried out on the instructions of Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, saw synchronized raids across all 28 police districts. Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla confirmed that 10.8 kg of heroin, 2 kg of opium, and ₹2.40 lakh in drug money were seized during the coordinated effort. Police teams also registered 81 FIRs in a single day and checked 557 suspicious individuals across 499 locations.
More than 220 police teams, consisting of over 1,600 personnel and led by 107 gazetted officers, executed the crackdown with tactical precision. The campaign is being monitored at the highest level by a five-member Cabinet Sub Committee headed by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema.
The anti-drug strategy is built around a three-pronged approach Enforcement, De-addiction, and Prevention (EDP). In alignment with the ‘De-addiction’ goal, police have successfully encouraged 69 individuals to enroll in treatment and rehabilitation programs in the latest round of action.
Chief Minister Mann has maintained a zero-tolerance policy toward drug peddling and directed all top administrative and police officials including Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners, and Senior Superintendents of Police to ensure that Punjab becomes a drug-free state.
As the operation enters its 109th day, officials vow to keep up the momentum until the state is free of the scourge that has crippled generations.
