New Phase of ‘War Against Drugs’ Campaign

March 22, 2026

The Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab has completed four years in office. With the assistance of its vigilance forces, the Punjab government has waged a committed war against all forms of narcotics. Marking the completion of these four years—and on the 383rd day of its anti-drug drive—the Punjab government and the Punjab Police conducted a massive cordon-and-search operation across the state. This operation targeted identified drug hotspots, including locations suspected of being used for the sale of narcotics. Led by DGP Gaurav Yadav, this campaign was executed simultaneously across all 28 districts of the state.

This initiative is known as ‘Operation CASO’ (Cordon and Search Operation). The current series of raids can be described as the second phase of this campaign.During this day-long operation, raids were conducted at 426 locations. A total of 200 FIRs were registered, and 248 individuals were arrested. From those apprehended, authorities recovered heroin, *bhukki* (poppy husk), narcotic pills, capsules, and Rs14,150 in drug money. To realize the goal of making the state drug-free, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has constituted a five-member Cabinet Sub-Committee—led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema—to ensure the continuous execution of this campaign. DGP (Special) Arpit Shukla has been specifically tasked with overseeing this operation.

This ‘War Against Drugs’ was launched on March 1, 2025, and has now been significantly intensified.To date, 38,119 FIRs have been registered against drug peddlers across the state, and 54,190 drug traffickers have been arrested. From their possession, authorities have recovered 2,384 kilograms of heroin, 715 kilograms of opium, 303 quintals of *bhukki*, 834 kilograms of *ganja* (cannabis), 51.35 lakh narcotic pills, 36 kilograms of ICE (methamphetamine), and Rs17 crore in drug money. It has also been reported that 121,000 individuals have received treatment at the state’s de-addiction centers to date.

However, much work still remains to be done in the fight against drug abuse. It is imperative that the traffickers who facilitate this illicit trade be prevented from infiltrating the villages and be put behind bars. The youth must be engaged through employment-oriented education and training. They should be encouraged to participate in sports so that they prioritize their physical well-being and steer clear of the scourge of drug addiction. Awareness campaigns against drug abuse should be conducted in schools, colleges, and universities.