Official data indicates that 73,541 NDPS cases have been registered between 2022 and 2026 to date, representing an increase of over 40 percent compared to the 52,255 cases recorded during the 2017–21 period. Arrests have simultaneously experienced a steep rise, reaching 98,596 in the current timeframe, up nearly 45 percent from the 68,064 arrests made earlier, signaling sustained and large-scale action against drug trafficking networks. The scale of this enforcement is most evident in seizure patterns that reflect a deeper penetration into supply chains, with heroin recoveries surging by 148 percent as 5,979 kg was seized since 2022 compared to 2,412 kg between 2017–21. Opium seizures have also risen by over 43 percent to 3,583 kg, pointing to intensified ground-level operations.
Action against synthetic drugs has seen a particularly sharp escalation under this mandate. Ice (crystal methamphetamine) seizures have jumped more than fourfold, rising from 17 kg in the earlier period to 93 kg since 2022, registering a 447 percent increase. Cocaine seizures remain broadly consistent at 6,064 kg compared to the 6,852 kg recorded earlier, reflecting continued pressure on high-value narcotics. Furthermore, the crackdown has widened to address pharmaceutical drug abuse, with enforcement agencies recovering 8.7 crore tablets and capsules between 2022 and 2026, underlining a broader strategy to cut off supply chains feeding addiction among the youth.
Crucially, this enforcement drive is translating into stronger judicial outcomes as conviction rates have climbed to 89 percent, indicating tighter investigations, improved evidence-building, and more effective prosecution. Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav stated that this is not just an increase in enforcement activity but a structural shift in how the drug menace is being tackled. He noted that the rise in cases and seizures reflects deeper, intelligence-led targeting of networks, while the jump in conviction rates shows that cases are being carried through to conviction, maintaining sustained pressure across the entire chain from suppliers to distributors.
The DGP emphasized that the scale and consistency of this action stems from the clear strategic direction under CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, with Yudh Nasheyan Virudhemerging as the central driver of coordinated, high-intensity enforcement. While the rise in seizures reflects intensified action on the ground, the Bhagwant Mann Government has reiterated that the larger objective remains the long-term disruption of drug networks and reducing availability at the grassroots level, ensuring that enforcement translates into a lasting impact for the state of Punjab.
About The Author
Comment List