2 days ago
Punjab Anti-Drug Drive Uses Citizen Tips to Fuel Arrests
Punjab started an anti-drug campaign called Yudh Nashean Virudh.
People could report suspected drug activity through a special helpline.
More than 51,000 reports were received.
Police say these reports helped lead to more than 25,000 arrests.
Officers also seized large amounts of several drugs and drug-related money.
The campaign targeted both major suppliers and smaller parts of the drug trade.
Police brought many people struggling with addiction to treatment centres and clinics.
Officials say the campaign combines stopping drug suppliers with helping people receive treatment.
The Safe Punjab Helpline received 51,979 citizen tip-offs between March 1, 2025, and September 3, 2026.
Authorities made 25,339 arrests linked to information received through the helpline during the campaign.
The drive recorded 59,293 FIRs under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and arrested 696 alleged major suppliers possessing over 2 kilograms of heroin each.
Agencies seized heroin, opium, poppy husk, ganja, methamphetamine, drug tablets and capsules, along with Rs 22 crore in suspected drug money.
Police also directed 42,498 people to de-addiction centres, 155,970 to OOAT clinics and granted 11,239 people immunity under Section 64A of the NDPS Act.
- Who
- Punjab enforcement agencies, the Anti-Narcotics Task Force, citizens who submitted tip-offs, and people struggling with addiction.
- What
- The Yudh Nashean Virudh anti-drug campaign received 51,979 tip-offs, helped produce 25,339 arrests, recorded drug seizures and directed people toward treatment.
- Where
- Punjab, India, through the Safe Punjab Helpline and state enforcement and treatment systems.
- When
- The reported figures cover March 1, 2025, through September 3, 2026.
- Why
- The campaign aims to disrupt the drug supply chain, identify suspected drug networks and encourage people with addiction to enter treatment.
Key facts
- Campaign
- Yudh Nashean Virudh
- Reporting channel
- Safe Punjab Helpline: 97791-00200
- Tip-offs received
- 51,979
- Arrests linked to tip-offs
- 25,339
- NDPS Act FIRs
- 59,293
- Major suppliers arrested
- 696 people reportedly found with more than 2 kilograms of heroin each
- Treatment referrals
- 42,498 people were admitted to de-addiction centres and 155,970 were taken to OOAT clinics
- Drug-money seizure
- Rs 22 crore
Quotes
Nilabh Kishore
Additional Director General of Police, Anti-Narcotics Task Force, Punjab
“The figures suggest that the anti-drug campaign is increasingly combining enforcement action with citizen-generated intelligence. The over 51,979 tip-offs received through the helpline indicate that members of the public are actively feeding information into the enforcement mechanism.”
NDTV
“Tip-offs have provided extra teeth to the Anti-Narcotics Task Force and we firmly believe that in the days to come, there will be more citizen participation in giving tip-offs and subsequent arrests as a result of it.”
NDTV
Sources
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