Chandigarh: Punjab Police has launched the next phase of its anti-drug campaign, ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ (YNV), with a focused three-day statewide special drive against illegal hawala operators who facilitate the movement of drug money and help sustain narcotics networks in the state.
Sharing details, DGP Punjab said the campaign aims to target the financial backbone of drug trafficking by identifying and taking strict action against individuals and networks involved in hawala transactions linked to the narcotics trade.
According to the DGP, Punjab Police has so far arrested 73 hawala operators under the Yudh Nashian Virudh campaign and recovered hawala money worth over Rs 10 crore.
The DGP further revealed that assets worth more than Rs 830 crore have been frozen under Section 68F of the NDPS Act since 2022 as part of the ongoing crackdown against drug traffickers and their financial networks.
Since March 1, 2025 alone, Punjab Police has recovered more than Rs 20 crore in drug proceeds. Additionally, 1,727 property-freezing proposals have been confirmed by the Competent Authority, reflecting the state’s aggressive approach towards dismantling the economic infrastructure supporting the drug trade.
Reiterating the force’s commitment, the DGP said Punjab Police follows a zero-tolerance policy against drugs and is determined to break the financial chains that enable narcotics trafficking.
“Through sustained legal action against drug traffickers, hawala operators, drug proceeds and illegally acquired assets, Punjab Police continues its efforts to dismantle organised drug networks and move towards the goal of a drug-free Punjab,” the DGP added.
The three-day special campaign will involve coordinated operations across districts, with a focus on tracking suspicious financial transactions, identifying hawala channels and taking legal action against those involved in laundering drug money.