In a decisive move to curb the flow of illicit consignments from across the western frontier, Punjab’s Director General of Police, Gaurav Yadav, announced today that trials of a cutting-edge anti-drone system have concluded successfully and that full-scale installation along the state’s secondary defence line will commence within weeks.
Speaking at a media briefing, DGP Yadav underscored the joint effort with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Border Security Force to operationalize the technology aimed at intercepting unmanned aerial vehicles believed to be ferrying narcotics and arms into Punjab. “We’ve held several coordination meetings with the MHA and BSF,” he said. “Preparations are in full swing, and within the next few months, we will be disrupting these deadly supply chains at the point of entry.”
In a related crackdown, the Punjab Police have dismantled key financial conduits of the drug trade by apprehending 31 prominent hawala operators suspected of laundering proceeds from narcotics. Officials recovered more than ₹8 crore in cash during raids across multiple districts. To further fragment these networks, the state government has green-lit transfers of convicted smugglers and money handlers to prisons outside Punjab, a tactic designed to sever local criminal ties.
With Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s target of rendering Punjab “drug-free” by May 31 looming, DGP Yadav clarified that the campaign will prioritize dismantling the infrastructure that enables addiction over hit-list quotas. “Our definition of ‘drug-free’ is simple: substances should disappear from street corners,” he explained. “We are not setting arbitrary numbers for arrests or seizures; our aim is to choke off supply routes.”
Following the deadline, law-enforcement teams will conduct on-the-ground surveys supported by intelligence units. District commanders who succeed in stamping out visible drug activity will earn commendations, while others may face scrutiny. Yet, Yadav stressed, this assessment will not hinge solely on statistical benchmarks.
In a departure from traditional NDPS procedures, the police have been instructed not to file criminal charges against individuals found with minor quantities of narcotics. Instead, those identified as addicts or small-time peddlers will be diverted to de-addiction and rehabilitation facilities under the special provisions of the NDPS Act, reflecting a shift toward treatment rather than punishment.
To speed up judicial proceedings in narcotics cases, the state has secured approval to establish 30 dedicated NDPS courts under the aegis of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Yadav also praised the Anti-Narcotics Task Force, led by Special DGP Kuldip Singh, for maintaining an impressive 90 percent conviction rate in drug-related prosecutions.
Addressing public concerns over an uptick in police encounters, the DGP affirmed that Punjab Police will exercise force only in self-defence, maintaining a zero-tolerance policy for any misuse of authority. “Our officers are empowered to protect themselves and the community, but any unwarranted aggression will be dealt with sternly,” he concluded.
As Punjab gears up for a dual offensive—high-tech aerial surveillance and grassroots rehabilitation—the state hopes to set a new benchmark in the battle against narcotics, even as geopolitical tensions along the India-Pakistan border continue to simmer.
