LAHORE: Punjab Inspector General of Police Rao Sardar Ali Khan has issued directions to all the field police officers to intensify crackdown on drug smugglers and users across the province. The instructions were issued to the Regional Police Officers (RPOs) and District Police Officers (DPOs) of Punjab to form teams and expedite operations.
Mr Khan said the use of drugs in educational institutions and hostels should be curtailed and action should be intensified against those involved in drug smuggling. He stressed upon the officers to round up the accused in drug cases and get them strictly punished from the courts. The IGP reiterated that coordination and information sharing with other law enforcement agencies, including Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) should be further improved to tighten the noose around the major drug smugglers so that culprits could be brought to book. He said special awareness campaigns and lectures should be continued in educational institutions to keep students safe from drugs and assistance should also be sought from civil society, teachers and religious scholars.
Sharing some reports regarding the police action, a spokesperson for the Punjab police said 12,825 cases were registered against drug smugglers and dealers across the province during the first three months of the year and 13028 suspects were arrested. He said a huge amount of drugs, including 6,335 kg hashish, 176kg heroin, 20,582 grams of ice (crystal meth) and 184,715 litres of liquor were recovered from the suspects. Regarding the operations in the provincial capital, he said 1,948 cases were registered against drug dealers in Lahore this year and 1,975 suspects were arrested. Similarly, 841kg hashish, 19kg heroin, 2,426 grams of crystal meth (ice) and 13,819 liters liquor were recovered from the suspects from Lahore. The spokesperson further said that apart from Lahore, operations were intensified in other major cities, including Rawalpindi, Multan, Faisalabad and Gujranwala for eradication of drugs.
(Daily Dawn)
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