In just over a fortnight’s time, Punjab Police has made a record recovery of nearly 70 kilograms of heroin, with the figure of total recovery in the current year so far reaching the all time high of 348 kgs.
As the State Government has waged a war against the drug trafficking and its abuse, the State police has also succeeded in seizing over two lakhs kgs of poppy husk in 2013, till date.
The police has recovered 278.536 kgs heroin, and 1,71,822 kgs poppy husk up to October 10, this year.
Besides, systematic action has been taken against sale of intoxicating powder and injections in the State with the seizure of 1,332.351 kgs of intoxicating powder, and 61,872 injections.
“With the seizure of 24 kg heroin by the State Special Operations Cell (SSOC), Amritsar, on Sunday and three truckloads of poppy husk of 252 quintals within the last 15 days by the Mansa Police, the systematic action against drug smugglers has gained further impetus,” said a statement from the office of State Inspector General of Police (Counter Intelligence).
He said that in 2012, the main focus was to identify and nab the organised smugglers who were importing heroin from across the border and breaking the supply lines.
“In 2013, after understanding the smuggling network, a two-fold strategy was adopted in the form of taking effective steps in coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF) to stop entry of heroin into the State,” he said.
He said that wherever the smugglers managed to succeed in bringing narcotics to Punjab, the same be tracked and seized before it was transported out of the State or distributed locally.
“Under these parameters, Punjab Police has achieved considerable success in seizures of heroin this year which has crossed an all time high of 348 kg. Other than heroin, concerted action has also been taken against import and sale of poppy husk in the State, with Punjab Police parties raiding places of source of poppy husk, in other States like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand,” he added.
After achieving a fair amount of success against organised smugglers, a state-wide crackdown on peddlers was done in order to stop the street sale of heroin and other drugs.
“In six months from mid-April to date, a total of 8,705 Narcotics cases have been registered and 9,808 persons have been arrested,” he said.