Ahead of high-octane 2014 lok Sabha polls in Punjab, the State authorities have seized drugs worth Rs 731 crore and 7.50 lakh litres of illicit and country liquor. The contraband items were seized after the model code of conduct came into effect March 5.
Punjab’s Chief Electoral Officer VK Singh said that the total amount of drugs seized so far is valued at Rs 731 crore, and the cash seizures till date across Punjab totalled Rs 21.85 crore.Besides, over 2.61 lakh licensed weapons have been deposited by people prior to the election.
Of the drugs seized, heroin alone accounts for nearly Rs 700 crore. Most of the recovery was made by Border Security Force (BSF) troopers along the 553-km barbed wire-fenced border with Pakistan.
Over 30 lakh capsules and tablets, used as intoxicants, were also seized in the past nearly six weeks. Punjab’s 13 lok Sabha seats go to the polls April 30. As many as 253 candidates are in the fray.