Police in Chandigarh, Punjab, on Friday carried out a massive state-level cordon and search operation (CASO) dubbed 'EAGLE-IV', targeting drug hotspots identified across the state, an official release said.
More than 500 police teams, made up of more than 4,000 troops, cordoned off 392 drug trafficking points and points of sale of drugs and psychotropic substances and arrested 254 people. Additionally, 352 checkpoints were established around these areas, the statement said.
The operation was led by Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav and was carried out from 8 am to 2 pm in all 28 police districts. Senior officials of the Punjab Police headquarters, including police commissioners and senior superintendents of police, were involved in the operation.
Special DGP (Law and Order) Arpit Shukla said police teams registered 221 FIRs and arrested 254 people. They also screened 4,575 suspicious people and verified their credentials, according to the statement.
During the operation, police recovered 2.6 kg of heroin, Rs 15.71 lakh in drug money, 83 kg of poppy husk, 2.6 kg of ganja (cannabis), 550 grams of opium, 7,553 tablets toxic and a significant amount of licit liquor. he added.
Senior police headquarters officials including ADGP, IG and DIG supervised the operation in each police district.
Special DGP Shukla, who joined Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gulneet Singh Khurana in Rupnagar, directed the police teams to meticulously plan the operation and execution of target areas harboring drug peddlers.
Shukla highlighted the state government's three-pronged strategy of law enforcement, de-addiction and prevention (EDP) to eradicate drugs. He urged officials to trace forward and backward links in all cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and take strict action against those who conspire with drug traffickers.
To combat drug smuggling from across the border, Shukla noted that strict surveillance is being maintained on the movements of drones, which are increasingly being used to smuggle drugs, weapons and explosives.
Since September 2019, there have been 906 drone sightings in border districts, and 187 drones have been successfully recovered, he said.
In addition, properties of prominent drug traffickers or dealers caught with more than 2kg of heroin are being confiscated, he added.
Since the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann-led government came to power, the Punjab police have seized 459 properties worth Rs 200 crore. There are 559 more proposals to freeze properties worth Rs 246 crore pending approval, the official added.
More than 500 police teams, made up of more than 4,000 troops, cordoned off 392 drug trafficking points and points of sale of drugs and psychotropic substances and arrested 254 people. Additionally, 352 checkpoints were established around these areas, the statement said.
The operation was led by Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav and was carried out from 8 am to 2 pm in all 28 police districts. Senior officials of the Punjab Police headquarters, including police commissioners and senior superintendents of police, were involved in the operation.
Special DGP (Law and Order) Arpit Shukla said police teams registered 221 FIRs and arrested 254 people. They also screened 4,575 suspicious people and verified their credentials, according to the statement.
During the operation, police recovered 2.6 kg of heroin, Rs 15.71 lakh in drug money, 83 kg of poppy husk, 2.6 kg of ganja (cannabis), 550 grams of opium, 7,553 tablets toxic and a significant amount of licit liquor. he added.
Senior police headquarters officials including ADGP, IG and DIG supervised the operation in each police district.
Special DGP Shukla, who joined Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gulneet Singh Khurana in Rupnagar, directed the police teams to meticulously plan the operation and execution of target areas harboring drug peddlers.
Shukla highlighted the state government's three-pronged strategy of law enforcement, de-addiction and prevention (EDP) to eradicate drugs. He urged officials to trace forward and backward links in all cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and take strict action against those who conspire with drug traffickers.
To combat drug smuggling from across the border, Shukla noted that strict surveillance is being maintained on the movements of drones, which are increasingly being used to smuggle drugs, weapons and explosives.
Since September 2019, there have been 906 drone sightings in border districts, and 187 drones have been successfully recovered, he said.
In addition, properties of prominent drug traffickers or dealers caught with more than 2kg of heroin are being confiscated, he added.
Since the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann-led government came to power, the Punjab police have seized 459 properties worth Rs 200 crore. There are 559 more proposals to freeze properties worth Rs 246 crore pending approval, the official added.
