In order to make Punjab a drug-free state as per the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Police on Sunday conducted a massive state-level Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) at identified drug hotspots and vulnerable areas with a focus on controlling the drug supply at ‘Point of Sale’.
The operation was conducted on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav from 11am to 2pm simultaneously in all 28 Police districts of the state. Range ADGPs/IGPs/DIGs and CPs/SSPs were asked to personally supervise the operation in their respective district.
The CPs/SSPs were told to plan this operation in a meticulous manner by identifying drug Hotspots— the points of sale of drugs and psychotropic substances in their respective districts or certain areas which have become shelter/safe haven for drug peddlers, to carry out this operation amid massive deployment of the police force.
Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla, who joined Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Ropar Range Nilambari Jagdale and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dr Sandeep Garg in SAS Nagar, said that the Punjab Police in its sincere efforts to eradicate drug menace from the border state has been following a multi-pronged strategy— Enforcement, Deaddiction and Prevention (EDP).
“Under enforcement part, Police have been focusing on controlling drug supply at Point of Sale by booking small drug peddlers, while, illegally acquired properties of big fish are being forfeited under section 68F of the NDPS act,” he said, while adding that the Second Line of Defence all along the border has also been strengthened to prevent smuggling of drugs from across the border.
The Special DGP said that after clear directions from the DGP Punjab regarding the police personnel from constable rank to Inspector rank— who have been posted at Police Stations for three or more years, a major reshuffle of cops in all the Police Stations is underway across the state.
He said that the Police officers have categorically been asked to look into forward and backward linkages of all the cases being registered under the NDPS act and take strict action against those found in collusion with the drug smugglers. Eye is being kept on all the drug smugglers lodged in jails as well, he added.
Special DGP Arpit Shukla said that following the strenuous efforts of the Punjab Police to root out drug menace from the state, Heroin recoveries have jumped 5.6 times (567%) since 2017. As per the information, Punjab Police seized a record heroin of about 1346 kg in 2023, while, 594kg was seized in 2022, 571kg in 2021, 760kg in 2020, 460kg in 2019, 424kg in 2018 and 179kg in 2017.
Similarly, the conviction rate in NDPS Act has also improved from 59 per cent in 2018 to 81 per cent in 2023, he added.
He said that apart from the Enforcement of laws against drug trafficking, the Punjab Police has also launched a special campaign against drugs as part of Prevention to educate the masses and get support of the general public in fight against drugs. As part of Deaddiction, Drug consumers— caught with little quantity of drugs— are exhorted to avail the provision of section 64-A of the NDPS act, which provides them with an opportunity for Deaddiction and rehabilitation, he added.
Sharing details of CASO, the Special DGP said that over 450 Police teams, comprising over 3000 police personnel, have cordoned off as many as 280 drug hotspots.
During the operation, the Police registered 140 first information reports (FIRs) after arresting 166, he said.
Sharing outcomes, Spl DGP Arpit Shukla said that Police teams have recovered 2.7-Kg Heroin, ₹1.50 lakh drug money, 12.2kg poppy husk, 5820 intoxicant tablets and a huge quantity of illicit and licit liquor and lahan, besides, impounding 16 motorcycles and three cars.
