Saturday, March 29, 2025
Chandigarh, May 31, 2025 – As the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government’s self-imposed deadline to eradicate drugs by May 31 concludes, Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav addressed the media, outlining both achievements and ongoing challenges in the state’s high-profile ‘War Against Drugs’.
Speaking at a press conference in Chandigarh on Friday, DGP Yadav claimed that the Punjab Police had made “great strides” in the anti-drug campaign. He presented data highlighting aggressive enforcement actions, including a large number of FIRs registered and significant arrests made under the campaign. He also revealed that multiple hawala-based financial networks used to fund the drug trade had been dismantled.
On the rehabilitation front, the DGP reported that 5,786 individuals battling substance addiction have been admitted to de-addiction centres across Punjab. In a noteworthy policy shift, he announced that individuals caught with small quantities of drugs would no longer be treated as criminals, but rather diverted to rehabilitation programs to receive medical and psychological support.
To counter smuggling operations, especially across the Pakistan border, the DGP said that nine new anti-drone systems have been procured to curb aerial trafficking of narcotics—a rising concern in the region.
“The Punjab Police has achieved great success in its efforts to eliminate drugs from the state,” Yadav stated. However, he conceded that drugs have not been completely wiped out, and their availability still lingers in some parts of the state. He stressed that the battle will continue beyond the May 31 deadline, and committed to sustained enforcement, intelligence operations, and community-based rehabilitation.
Despite the claims of progress, opposition parties have strongly criticized the state government, arguing that the promise of a drug-free Punjab has not been fulfilled. Political leaders across parties have questioned the AAP government’s strategy and transparency, especially as the May 31 deadline came and went without complete eradication of the drug menace.
The war against drugs has been one of the cornerstone promises of the AAP administration in Punjab. As the deadline passes, public attention is now shifting to how the government plans to maintain momentum, improve rehabilitation infrastructure, and ensure long-term reduction in drug abuse across the state.
