Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
Punjab’s Anti-Drug Crackdown: 85,418 smugglers booked, Rs 2,730 cr assets frozen, 88% NDPS conviction rate in 2025
Punjab moving towards decisive victory against drug menace: CM Mann
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, December 27, 2025: Punjab is decisively turning the tide against drugs and organised crime, with strong enforcement and zero political interference yielding tangible results, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said on Saturday.
Chairing a high-level meeting to review law and order and the performance of the Police Department, the Chief Minister revealed that 85,418 drug smugglers have been booked over the last three and a half years, while an unprecedented 88 per cent conviction rate under the NDPS Act has been achieved in 2025.
The Chief Minister said that since his government assumed office, 63,053 cases have been registered against drug smugglers.
He added that following the launch of the ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign on March 1, 2025, the police registered 30,144 FIRs and arrested 40,302 smugglers in 2025 alone. He described the campaign as a first-of-its-kind drive that has significantly checked the spread of drugs in the state.
CM Mann said the government adopted a multi-pronged strategy based on enforcement, de-addiction and prevention, which has delivered encouraging results. Over the past 3.5 years, Punjab Police recovered 5,119.94 kg of heroin, 3,458.53 kg of opium, 5.82 kg of cocaine, 82.04 kg of ICE, and 4.98 crore intoxicant capsules, besides seizing drug money worth ₹52.46 crore.
Highlighting the state’s comprehensive approach since 2022, the Chief Minister said the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) and Punjab Police have focused on dismantling organised trafficking networks rather than isolated seizures.
He noted that enforcement efforts now target commercial quantity cases, repeat offenders and higher-level supply chains.
CM Mann further said that financial investigations have played a crucial deterrent role, with over 1,400 proposals for freezing illegally acquired properties confirmed. Properties worth more than ₹2,730 crore were frozen or confirmed between 2022 and 2025, sending a strong message that proceeds of drug crime will not be allowed to sustain narcotics networks.
He said strong investigation quality and legal follow-up led to the disposal of over 25,000 NDPS cases, resulting in more than 21,600 convictions. The overall conviction rate has steadily improved to around 84 per cent, reaching nearly 88 per cent in 2025, reflecting better case preparation, forensic support and prosecution.
He added that technological capabilities have been strengthened through PAIS-based analytics, digital forensics, technical cells and intelligence integration.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the success of the ‘SAFE Punjab’ WhatsApp chatbot, which generated nearly 30,000 actionable tips, leading to over 11,000 FIRs and around 14,000 arrests, with a conversion rate of about 38 per cent. He said public participation and trust have been key to the campaign’s success.
Referring to the fight against organised crime, CM Mann said that from January 1 to December 17, 2025, Punjab Police arrested 916 gangsters, neutralised 13 criminals, busted 389 modules and recovered 594 weapons along with 229 additional firearms.
Reiterating his government’s resolve, the Chief Minister said Punjab is firmly on the path to defeating the drug menace through sustained, outcome-oriented action and collective responsibility.