Punjab Intensifies Anti-Drug Campaign Under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s Directive

Lahore, Following directives from Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Police have escalated their efforts across the province to create a drug-free environment and protect the youth from drug abuse. The initiative, spearheaded by Inspector General Police Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar, involves rigorous enforcement actions including raids, arrests, and seizures of substantial quantities of illegal substances.

According to Punjab Police, in just the last day, law enforcement conducted 324 raids on drug dens throughout Punjab, including Lahore, leading to the registration of 120 First Information Reports (FIRs) and the arrest of 125 individuals implicated in drug trafficking. Authorities have confiscated 74 kilograms of charas, 2 kilograms of heroin, 5 kilograms of opium, and 1,452 liters of liquor.

Over the past 50 days, as part of the special campaign, police actions have intensified in various districts, resulting in over 15,000 raids. These efforts have culminated in the arrest of 7,625 suspects and the registration of 7,167 cases against those involved in the narcotics trade. The total haul from these operations includes 4,971 kilograms of charas, 90 kilograms of heroin, 215 kilograms of opium, 26 kilograms of Ice, and 97,676 liters of alcohol.

IG Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar emphasized the severity of the drug menace, stating that those who entice the younger generation into drug dependency deserve no leniency. He asserted that all individuals involved in the drug supply chain, from distribution to consumption, must be rigorously prosecuted and subjected to stern legal penalties.

This heightened crackdown reflects the Punjab government’s commitment to eradicating drug abuse and ensuring a safer future for the province’s youth.