'Major Success' in elimination of drugs, drive against narcotics to go on, says Punjab DGP | | | AGENCIES CHANDIGARH, May 31: DGP Gaurav Yadav on Saturday said Punjab Police's anti-drug drive has achieved "major success" and that narcotics are no longer easily available in the state. Though the drug menace has not been completely eliminated, the drive to wipe it out will "continue relentlessly", the police chief told the media here. His statement assumes significance as Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on February 28 set a deadline of three months to make Punjab drug-free. Sharing details of the ongoing anti-drug drive, Director General of Police (DGP) Yadav said a total of 13,038 people have been arrested and 8,344 FIRs have been lodged under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Of the total arrested persons, 1,696 were "big fish", he said. He said police seized 586 kg heroin, 14,000 kg poppy husk, 247 kg opium, 253 kg ganja, 1.6 kg ICE, and 25.70 lakh capsules and tablets during the drive. Of the 1,205 drugs cases in which trial has been completed, conviction was secured in 1,085, which is 90 per cent, the officer added. Yadav further said 48 hawala operators were arrested and Rs 10.76 crore of hawala money was recovered. Asked whether Punjab has become a drug-free state now, the police chief said, "In our assessment, we have got a very big success and I feel that it is an example not only in entire India, but in the world also in which a determined and multi-pronged effort has been undertaken to eliminate drugs from the state."
|
|