In a sweeping and coordinated war on drugs, the state of Punjab has made significant strides under the banner of ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ — an anti-narcotics campaign spearheaded on the directives of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. Launched on March 1, 2025, this ambitious and unprecedented campaign has successfully rattled the economic core of drug syndicates, frozen ill-gotten assets, and dismantled major smuggling networks across the state.
What began as a call-to-action from the Chief Minister to rid Punjab of the drug menace has now turned into one of the most aggressive anti-drug movements in the country. The campaign has not only witnessed daily enforcement operations across all 28 police districts but also roped in the highest levels of administrative oversight. A five-member Cabinet Sub-Committee, chaired by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, was constituted to ensure the campaign remains uncompromising in its mission.
At the heart of this intensive drive is the Punjab Police, operating under the strict direction of Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav. Every day, multiple coordinated raids have been carried out across urban and rural pockets, aided by intelligence networks and monitored closely by Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners, and Senior Superintendents of Police.
The results, even by conservative estimates, are staggering.
In just the first 100 days, police teams have arrested 16,533 individuals linked to drug trafficking and registered 9,693 FIRs. The recoveries include 627 kg of heroin, 252 kg of opium, 15 tons of poppy husk, 9 kg of charas, 264 kg of ganja, 2.7 kg of ICE, 2.6 kg of cocaine, and over 26.5 lakh tablets or pills of intoxicants. These statistics alone reflect not only the intensity of the drug trade but also the unwavering commitment of the state machinery to dismantle it, one layer at a time.
In a major financial setback to these criminal networks, illegally acquired properties worth ₹78.52 crores have been frozen, effectively paralyzing their assets. Further, in a targeted disruption of underground finance routes, the police cracked open a nexus of Hawala operators — arresting 48 key players and seizing ₹13.03 crore in unaccounted drug money. This tactical blow has struck the funding channels of the syndicates, making it harder for smugglers to operate or reinvest in drug trafficking.
According to Special DGP (Law and Order) Arpit Shukla, the economic choking of these operations has created a vacuum in the narcotic market, leaving smugglers disoriented and scrambling. Raids are not just high in number but are executed with surgical precision, often involving over 1,400 personnel and 90 gazetted officers. On Day 100 alone, over 200 police teams conducted surprise raids at 466 locations, netting 127 more drug smugglers and recovering 4.1 kg of heroin, 20 kg of poppy husk, and ₹2.2 lakh in drug cash.
But it isn’t just the scale of enforcement that’s drawing national attention. The campaign is anchored in a three-pronged strategy — Enforcement, Deaddiction, and Prevention (EDP). While police continue to tackle the supply chain, the deaddiction front has seen encouraging signs, with 46 individuals voluntarily opting for rehabilitation during the campaign period.
Yet, amid this intense operation, there were moments that baffled even the seasoned officers. In one such case, a person suspected of being deeply embedded in a drug supply network mysteriously disappeared while being tracked during a covert surveillance mission. Sources close to the investigation revealed that this individual, whose identity remains undisclosed, vanished just moments before a scheduled police interception. The disappearance has raised serious concerns about potential intelligence leaks and insider alerts. The individual’s sudden vanishing act has prompted an internal inquiry, and security forces are now re-evaluating communication protocols to plug such vulnerabilities. For now, the search continues, and the police remain tight-lipped, unwilling to compromise the integrity of the ongoing operation.
This strategic mix of aggressive crackdowns, financial disruption, and community-focused deaddiction efforts is transforming Punjab’s war on drugs from a routine law enforcement effort into a sustained and multi-layered assault on narcotics. It sets a bold precedent for other states battling similar crises.
The campaign is expected to evolve further in the coming months, with additional technology integration, community reporting mechanisms, and international intelligence-sharing agreements to neutralize cross-border trafficking attempts.
This report is part of our web-generated digital series aimed at chronicling major developments shaping India’s internal security and public welfare.
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