Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], September 13 : Continuing the war against drugs "Yudh Nashian Virudh" waged by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state consecutively for the 196th day, Punjab Police conducted raids at 383 locations on Saturday leading to the arrest of 99 drug smugglers after registration of 77 first information reports (FIRs) across the state.
With this, the total number of drug smugglers arrested has reached 29,387 in 196 days.
The raids have resulted in the recovery of 2.5 kg of heroin, 1.2 kg of opium, 5 kg of ganja, 65 kg of poppy husk, 1108 intoxicant tablets/capsules and Rs 6,770 drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers.
Notably, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann has asked the Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendent of Police to make Punjab a drug-free state. The Punjab government has also constituted a 5-member Cabinet Sub-Committee led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema to monitor the war against drugs.
Over 150 Police teams, comprising over 1,200 police personnel, under the supervision of 76 gazetted officers, have conducted raids across the state. Police teams have also checked as many as 418 suspicious persons during the day-long operation.
The state government has enforced a three-pronged strategy, Enforcement, Deaddiction and Prevention (EDP), to eradicate drugs from the state. The Punjab Police, as part of 'De-addiction', has convinced 51 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment today.