The Punjab Police on Wednesday claimed to have seized a large haul of narcotics and arrested over 1,000 people during a nine-day campaign against drug menace in the state.
As many as 1,243 people were arrested and 1,181 FIRs were registered during the anti-drug drive which was launched on May 23 and ended on May 31.
Police also seized 83,634 capsules, 36 kg of opium, eight kgs of cocaine and varying quantities of other drugs, along with 10.47 kg of heroin, 32.5 kg of smack, and 2,305 kg of poppy husk.
This was the second such drive against drug menace in the state after a major one launched in mid-2014, said the spokesperson, adding that it was conducted under the supervision of district Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs), and Commissioners of Police (CPs).
Since June 1, 2015, the SSPs or CPs are monitoring the availability of drugs in their respective jurisdictions so as to ensure a complete crackdown and non-availability of drugs.
After the seizure of the haul, police is now monitoring the availability of drugs in their respective jurisdictions to ensure a complete crackdown and non-availability of drugs, he said.
The spokesperson said that the Punjab police adopted a two-pronged strategy to combat drug trafficking in the state after a major anti-drug drive launched in mid-2014 for breaking drug retail networks in the state.
The strategy focused on complete eradication of remnants of peddling in close-knit circles of old consumer of drugs smuggled from outside state, and intercepting trans-border transit consignments has been put on ground with the objective of ensuring no availability of drugs in the state.
Punjab Police is focusing on trans-border transit of drugs outside the state so as to intercept narcotic consignments in the hinterland after they cross the international border and break international drug trafficking networks,” he said.
The spokesperson claimed that there was no report of new consumer or peddler indulging in drug trade during the last one year, saying that availability of drugs has been controlled. “However, there are some reports of hardcore drug peddlers disposing off small quantities of drugs in close-knit circles of old consumers by using old stocks or drugs smuggled from outside the state. Keeping in view these reports, this new drive has been launched,” he said.
Spokesperson said that village touring by field police officers has been started under the supervision of Zonal IGPs to reach out to the public at the grass root levels so as to consult and involve them about exploring alternative employment avenues for former peddlers.
Village Panchayats have been involved in this exercise which is aimed at ensuring that the former drug peddlers do not relapse into crime again.
Punjab Police was focusing on intelligence-led operations for intercepting narcotic consignments being sent from across the international border to outside the state which transit through Punjab in two to five hours, he said.
The Counter Intelligence Wing has recently busted an international drug trafficking network transiting heroin from Pakistan through Punjab to Uttar Pradesh and arrested four persons, including two Pakistan nationals.