49,504 suspects arrested in raids on drug dealers this year

LAHORE : The anti-narcotics operations have been intensified in Punjab under the supervision of Inspector General Police Punjab Dr Usman Anwar and a total of 88,763 raids were conducted on drug-dealer hideouts this year, leading to the arrest of 49,504 accused, and 49,006 cases were registered.

Police seized 29,983 kilograms of charas, 847 kilograms of heroin, 1,349 kilograms of opium, 367 kilograms of ice (crystal meth), and more than 810,000 litres of alcohol from the suspects.

Additionally, 1,269 drug addict were admitted to rehabilitation centres for treatment.

According to the spokesperson for Punjab Police, in the provincial capital alone, 8,150 raids were conducted this year at drug dealers’ hideouts, leading to the arrest of 8,422 accused and the registration of 8,149 cases. The seized items included 6,174 kilograms of charas, 251 kilograms of heroin, 304 kilograms of opium, 149 kilograms of ice, and 56,984 litres of alcohol.

IG Punjab directed RPOs and DPOs to further accelerate special operations against drug dealers and smugglers, emphasising the need to bring more accused involved in the drug supply chain to justice and ensure they receive strict punishments.