CHANDIGARH: In a massive crackdown on drugs in Punjab, over 485 drug traders and peddler were arrested and 397 FIRs were registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. A Punjab government spokesperson stated that the multi-state agency operation involving state police backed by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Anti-Narcotics cell units, led to major drug seizures across the region.
Chief Minister Amarinder Singh directed all state agencies to coordinate with central agencies such as the Narcotics Control Bureau, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, and the customs department to check the supply and smuggling of drugs into the state from other parts of India, and abroad, the spokesperson said. A Special Task Force was set up by Singh to clean the drug menace in the state. A statement released by the state government said that in the period between March 16, the day the new government was installed in the state, and March 27, a total of 3.945 Kg of Heroin has been recovered in raids, including 1 kg seized by the BSF.
"The maximum of 63 cases have been registered in Jalandhar rural district, from where the maximum recovery of 7.25 kg of opium, besides recovery of one kg of heroin by Border Security Forces at the border, has also been reported," the statement said. The teams also recovered 133 bottles of syrup, 1,075 injections, and 90,993 capsules/pills packed with drugs, besides 11.224 kg of Intoxicant powder during the period.
Apart from crack down on drug mafias, Punjab government has also launched massive awareness programmes, which include seminars and educational programmes in schools and colleges, along with road shows/rallies, are being conducted to create awareness about the drugs menace while the de-addiction centres, which had become defunct under the previous government, are being reactivated.
