Punjab: 497 arrests over drug menace since we came to power, says Captain Amarinder Singh

Captain Amarinder Singh has directed the state agencies to coordinate with central agencies such as the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and the customs department to check te supply and smuggling of drugs.

Amritsar, March 31: In a massive crackdown on drugs in Punjab, in last few days as many as 497 arrests have been taken place since the Congress party formed a government in the state, claims newly appointed Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh. In last 10 days, the police officials across Punjab have carried out a massive crackdown on drugs and had registered 387 FIRs under the stringent Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

In a multi-state agency operation, involving state police officials, supported by Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Anti-Narcotics cell units have received 240 tip-offs in last 2 days on drug peddlers behind the menace, which led to the major arrest. But it seems that the Captain Amarinder Singh-led Congress government is now eyeing on big fish. “We are going all out to catch the big traders of drugs in Punjab,” Amarinder Singh said to India Today. Singh also stressed on the need of a “national policy on drugs”, which he said have raised this at a recent chief ministers conference in New Delhi.

On Tuesday, Punjab government spokesperson said that the civil administration was also extended its full support to the anti-drugs campaign. Also Read – Captain Amarinder Singh’s big haul in Punjab: STF given free hand to wipe out drug menace; 485 drug traders and peddlers arrested in 10 days

The newly appointed chief minister has directed the state agencies to coordinate with central agencies such as the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and the customs department to check te supply and smuggling of drugs in Punjab from bordering Pakistan and other parts of India.

Earlier on Tuesday, the statement issued by Punjab government said that the maximum number of cases, around 63, were registered in Jalandhar Rural district, from where the maximum recovery of 7.25 kgs of opium and 1 kg of heroin were recovered by the Border Security Forces (BSF).

Soon after forming the government in Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh had set up a Special Task Force (STF) to wipe out the drug menace in the state especially ‘chitta’ (heroin, synthetic/pharma drugs).

The statement further said that between March 16 – the day when the new government was installed and March 2, a total of 3.945 kgs of Heroin was recovered during raids by the special teams constituted as part of the campaign.

Which also included 1 kg of Heroin seized by the BSF. Other drug seizures made during this period included Opium, Charas, Poppy Husk, Smack, Bhang and Ganja.

Apart from a traditional crackdown on drug peddlers and mafias, Punjab government also claims to have launched massive awareness programs across educational institutions.