In a major blow to the economic infrastructure of drug smugglers, the police have arrested 31 hawala operators and seized Rs 8.03 crore in drug money.
Under the stringent 68-F NDPS Act, the state has frozen properties worth Rs 32.95 crore belonging to 81 smugglers, crippling their ability to launder money or reinvest in crime.
Additionally, 72 illegally constructed properties of drug smugglers have been demolished by local authorities in accordance with the law.
Sharing the outcomes of the ongoing ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’, which has now completed 59 days, he stated that police teams have arrested 7,414 drug smugglers, including 1,877 major figures, after registering 4,659 FIRs under the NDPS Act since March 1.
They have recovered 297 kg of heroin, 100 quintals of poppy husk, 153 kg of opium, 95 kg of ganja, 21.77 lakh tablets, and Rs 8.03 crore in drug money from their possession.
Among the total arrests, 1,774 drug smugglers were apprehended from 755 identified drug hotspots during 908 targeted and effective CASO operations, he added.
Since the Punjab Police adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards the use of force against officers, Yadav stated that 62 drug smugglers or gangsters have been injured in retaliatory fire by police teams in self-defense since March 1.
