LAHORE: In a major crackdown against drug peddlers and smugglers, Punjab Police have arrested 17,167 accused during the current year as part of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif's vision for a "Drug-Free Punjab". According to a spokesperson for Punjab Police, a total of 17,171 cases have been registered against drug dealers and smugglers since the start of the operation, which was launched on the directives of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab Abdul Kareem.
Massive Seizures of Narcotics and Liquor
The spokesperson revealed that Punjab Police recovered 9,285 kilograms of charas, 1,002 kilograms of heroin, 505 kilograms of ice, 510 kilograms of opium, and over 245,000 litres of liquor from the possession of the accused. In Lahore alone, police arrested 2,102 drug peddlers and registered 2,037 cases against them. The Lahore Police recovered 723 kilograms of charas, 74 kilograms of heroin, 180 kilograms of ice, 21 kilograms of opium, and 12,146 litres of liquor during these operations.
IGP Directs Intensified Operations Near Educational Institutions
IGP Punjab Abdul Kareem has directed all field officers to ensure that everyone involved in the drug supply chain is brought to justice and receives strict punishment under the law. He further instructed that operations against narcotics dealers operating in and around educational institutions, including colleges, universities, and hostels, should be intensified. A province-wide crackdown on professional beggars is also on the cards.
