CHANDIGARH: Even as the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab claimed to have ramped up its campaign against the drug menace plaguing the border state, the fight is proving to be complex.
Mann, who has completed three years in office, claimed on many occasions to make Punjab free from drugs, one of the key promises AAP made during the 2022 elections.
Since taking office, the Bhagwant Mann government has taken several initiatives to fulfil its promise of eradicating drugs, branding its efforts as the “Yudh Nashian Virudh” (War Against Drugs).
One of the most significant steps came in August 2024, when Mann inaugurated the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), replacing the earlier Special Task Force (STF). Equipped with advanced technology, additional manpower, and a renovated headquarters in Mohali, the ANTF aims to dismantle drug supply chains at both the grassroots and at higher levels. The government also launched an Anti-Drug Helpline and WhatsApp Chatbot to report trafficking anonymously.
Recently, the state government escalated its crackdown by forming a five-member cabinet committee to oversee operations, signalling an approach on war-footing. Punjab Police revealed that in March alone, over 2,384 FIRs were registered, 4,142 people arrested for drug trafficking, 146 kilograms of heroin seized, and Rs 5.83 crore in drug-related cash recovered. The daily arrest average rose to 64, surpassing last year’s 33 and 2023’s 41 arrests per day.
Moreover, the government confiscated properties worth Rs 500 crore from traffickers, demolished illegal assets, and transferred over 10,000 police personnel suspected of colluding with smugglers.
Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav, emphasizing a shift toward targeting high-level suppliers and kingpins, claimed, “Street-level drug availability significantly reduced, a new strategy is in place to identify and cut off supply lines from villages to cities.”
However, the seizure and arrest figures reveal a flourishing drug trade, requiring more efforts to achieve zero. Another major challenge is tracing the links of drug lords, many of whom have deep-rooted connections abroad, particularly across the border with Pakistan.
Security experts point out that Punjab’s 425-kilometer border with Pakistan remains a critical vulnerability. Cash-rich traders using drones, human carriers, and underground tunnels have emerged as preferred methods for smuggling heroin and synthetic drugs from across the border, often originating in Afghanistan’s Golden Crescent—a key global hub for opium production.
Punjab Police officials involved in the campaign reveal that gangs operating in border districts—Amritsar, Ferozepur, and Tarn Taran—are increasingly linked to international syndicates, complicating enforcement efforts.
Meanwhile, the state’s and Centre’s fight over drug trade intensified with the Punjab CM demanding Rs 600 crore over 10 years (Rs 60 crore annually) to set up special NDPS courts, citing a backlog of over 35,000 pending cases. The conviction rate in drug cases has risen to 85% under AAP, up from 55% before 2022, but critics argue that small-time peddlers dominate arrests while major traffickers evade justice.
The Punjab government also criticized the Border Security Force (BSF) for failing to stem the influx, pointing to over 906 drone sightings since 2019, of which only 187 were intercepted. “When it comes to cross-border smuggling, the BSF must take the lead,” said Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema.
Recognizing that enforcement alone won’t suffice, the AAP government has rolled out initiatives to address demand and rehabilitation. Special grants are being offered to villages that eradicate drug use, with funds earmarked for sports infrastructure to engage youth constructively. A state-wide drug census, announced by AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal, aims to identify affected households and ensure treatment access. The government is also focusing on rehabilitation centres, monitored by Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh.
However, figures remain disturbing. Internal reports suggest 6.6 million drug users in Punjab, with over 280 overdose deaths recorded in the past three years. From April 1, 2020, to March 31, 2023, Punjab recorded 266 deaths due to narcotic and psychotropic substance overdoses.
The drug issue has long been a political football in Punjab. Opposition parties accuse the Mann government of failing to deliver on its promises. BJP’s Punjab media head, Vineet Joshi claimed, citing a BJP study, that actual deaths due to drugs during AAP’s regime could be between 2,000 and 2,500, alleging underreporting and police reluctance to register FIRs. “By launching this campaign after three years, the government itself admitted its failure,” he added.
Shiromani Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal claimed the menace was spreading to neighbouring states like Haryana and Rajasthan. Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring alleged nearly 40 drug-related deaths occurred every month, with many cases going unreported, claiming the state is losing over 1,000 youth annually
AAP, in turn, blames past governments for fostering a police-politician-peddler nexus. Mann alleged his predecessors “patronized smugglers.” AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal hailed the government’s unprecedented action, claiming the past month’s achievements were unseen in 75 years.
“AAP’s government is honest and cannot be bought. We are taking strict action against drug traffickers with zero compromise. All block presidents have been told to visit at least 10 villages each to spread the message that no peddler will be allowed. The government has also set up village defence committees,” he added.