Punjab’s drug war

PUNJAB’s ongoing crackdown on drug trafficking demonstrates a renewed commitment to combating the drug menace that has gripped the state for long. Over the past 10 months, the Punjab Police have arrested 10,524 smugglers, including 153 high-level operators, recovering substantial amounts of heroin and other drugs. While these numbers reflect commendable action, simply reporting figures is not enough. To create real deterrence, the police must go beyond these statistics by naming and shaming major traffickers. This must be followed up with swift judicial proceedings against the big fish to send out the message that engaging in such illicit activities has very serious consequences.

Punjab’s current two-pronged approach — targeting large drug networks alongside local peddlers — has yielded significant success, with seizures totalling 790 kg of heroin, 860 kg of opium and other narcotics, along with drug money amounting to over Rs 13 crore. Additionally, the state has frozen assets worth Rs 208 crore, striking at the financial foundations of these criminal operations. However, a more impactful strategy would involve publicly exposing major traffickers and demolishing the notion of impunity associated with the trade.

At the same time, the authorities need to strike at the threat of cross-border trafficking, which has intensified with the increasing use of drones to smuggle narcotics. This year alone, the Border Security Force (BSF) seized 183 drones along the Punjab border, a significant rise from 107 in 2023. These drones, primarily from Pakistan, represent a sophisticated smuggling method that demands stronger countermeasures, though the BSF has put in place some anti-drone systems. As Punjab battles this deeply-rooted crisis and tries to reclaim communities from the grip of narcotics, a robust, multi-agency collaboration is called for to reinforce border security and intercept such high-tech threats.