Mumbai, June 26: The Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is intensifying its ‘War Against Drugs’ campaign. A district-level review meeting was held on Friday at the District Administrative Complex in SAS Nagar, chaired by MP Malvinder Singh Kang. The meeting focused on enhancing community participation, monitoring, and rehabilitation efforts to combat substance abuse.
Present at the meeting were Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal, SSP (additional charge) Maninder Singh, SP Deepika Singh, and various officials from the district administration and health departments. They reviewed the actions and achievements from the second phase of the campaign.
MP Malvinder Singh Kang emphasized that the ‘War Against Drugs’ initiative is crucial for making Punjab drug-free. He urged all departments and coordinators to work more actively and in coordination. Special attention is to be given to drug hotspots, engaging youth in sports and creative activities, and prioritizing treatment and rehabilitation for those in need.
He pointed out that Punjab’s youth are often misrepresented as being associated with drugs, while they excel in sports like cricket, hockey, volleyball, and basketball, making a mark both nationally and internationally. He reiterated the Punjab government’s commitment to eradicating drug abuse and taking stringent actions against traffickers.
Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal reported that the district’s drug de-addiction center is equipped with 100 beds to treat affected youth and provide them with skill development training for rehabilitation. Additionally, 26 Opioid Assisted Treatment (OAT) centers in the district offer outpatient treatment and medication.
During the meeting, district police chief Maninder Singh shared updates on the ongoing operations against drug traffickers. The police are conducting intelligence-based operations to disrupt trafficking networks. Daily, they set up 20 checkpoints and carry out 20 to 30 raids against traffickers and their associates. Continuous cordon and search operations are also being conducted in sensitive areas.
Since March 2025, 314 out of 660 identified drug dealers and 55 out of 85 identified traffickers have been arrested. During this period, 1,587 FIRs have been registered under the NDPS Act, leading to the arrest of 2,251 individuals.
The police are employing technical surveillance, human intelligence, and financial investigations to identify sources of drug supply, interstate networks, and organized crime syndicates. They are also investigating bank accounts and digital transactions linked to illicit drug profits, with actions taken to seize illegally acquired assets.
To strengthen community participation, the police are holding regular meetings with various associations, social representatives, Village Defense Committees (VDCs), and Ward Defense Committees (WDCs). Since March 2025, a total of 5,688 meetings have been conducted with these committees.
The meeting concluded with an agreement to enhance coordination among departments, strengthen rehabilitation efforts for affected individuals, and maintain strict actions against drug traffickers.
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