Punjab police arrest 254 persons, recover Rs 15.71 lakh drug money

Further intensifying the ongoing war against drugs waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Senior Officers from the Punjab Police Headquarters (PPHQ) joined CPs/SSPs to conduct a massive state-level Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) carried out under the name of 'EAGLE-IV' at identified drug Hotspots-- the points of sale of drugs and psychotropic substances-- across the state, Information and Public Relations Department, Punjab said in a statement.

The operation was conducted on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav from 8 am to 2 pm simultaneously in all 28 Police districts of the state and Special DGP/ADGP/IGP/DIG rank officers from PPHQ were deputed in each Police district to personally supervise the operation.

Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla, who joined Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Guneet Singh Khurana in Rupnagar, said that the CPs/SSPs were told to plan this operation in a meticulous manner in their respective districts and conduct raids at such areas, which have become shelter/safe haven for drug peddlers amid massive deployment of the police force, it added.

He said that the state government has enforced a three-pronged strategy-- Enforcement, Deaddiction and Prevention (EDP)-- to eradicate drugs from the state. Police officers have been asked to trace the 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, he added.

The Special DGP said that to break the backbone of the drug smuggling networks running from across the border, strict vigil is being kept on the movement of drones, which have emerged as the new modus operandi to smuggle drugs, weapons and explosives from across the border. There were a total of 906 drone sightings reported in all the border districts of the state since September 2019, of which 187 drones were successfully recovered, he added.

He said that the properties of big drug smugglers or big fish-- caught with 2kg or above heroin-- are also being forfeited. "Punjab Police have forfeited 459 properties worth Rs 200 crores of big smugglers since the CM Mann led Punjab Government came into the power, while, 559 more proposals to freeze properties worth Rs 246 crores are pending with the competent authority," said Spl DGP Arpit Shukla.

Pertinently, over 500 Police teams, comprising over 4000 police personnel, have cordoned off as many as 392 drug hotspots. As many as 352 Strong Nakas were also laid at and around all the drug hotspots, the statement added.

During the operation, Spl DGP Arpit Shukla said that the Police teams have registered 221 first information reports (FIRs) after arresting 254 persons. Police teams have also checked 4575 suspicious persons and verified their credentials.

Police teams have recovered 2.6-Kg Heroin, Rs 15.71 lakh drug money, 83 kg poppy husk, 2.6 kg ganja, 550grams opium, 7553 intoxicant tablets and a huge quantity of illicit and licit liquor and lahan, he added. (ANI)