Drug-free Chandigarh: 141 smugglers held in less than 6 mths
Continuing with the crackdown on smugglers under a sustained campaign to free Chandigarh of drugs, the UT police have arrested 141 smugglers, including 21 women, with a huge quantity of narcotics this year. The arrests made in the past six months have surpassed the last year’s tally of 133.
Punjab Governor-cum-UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria had recently taken a vow to make Chandigarh the first drug-free city of the country with zero-tolerance approach towards smugglers and all others involved in the illegal trade. The event saw a massive walk against drugs in which over 2 lakh students took pledge against drugs in the presence of Punjab and Haryana Chief Ministers Bhagwant Mann and Nayab Saini here on May 3.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kanwardeep Kaur told The Tribune on Sunday that the Chandigarh Police had implemented a multi-pronged strategy to tackle the menace of drug abuse and trafficking in the Union Territory.
“This approach blends rigorous enforcement with preventive education, rehabilitative support and community-based interventions to create a sustainable and holistic response to the problem,” she said.
A 2013-batch Punjab cadre IPS officer, Kanwardeep is the second woman SSP of Chandigarh, serving here since March 2023. She disclosed that the key components of the police strategy comprised strong law enforcement and intelligence-driven operations, preventive education and awareness campaigns, rehabilitation and de-addiction support, community policing and civic participation, inter-agency and inter-state coordination and legal as well as judicial support.
She said 141 smugglers, including 21 women, had been caught in 71 cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in the city from January 1 to June 12 this year. The recovery included about 2-kg heroin, 2-kg poppy husk, 32-kg ganja, 3-kg charas, 227-gram opium, 74-gram cocaine, 48 cocaine balls, 16 crack balls containing synthetic drugs, over 61-gram Ice — popularly known as party drug, habit-forming intoxicant tablets, injections, and over Rs 17-lakh drug money.
“In three significant NDPS cases, illegally acquired properties of 14 narco offenders and their families worth about Rs 4-crore have been attached/seized,” said the SSP.
She said investigations into 12 FIRs have resulted in the arrests of 36 accused, with linkages established by thorough forward and backward tracing of narcotics supply and distribution networks.
Under the provisions of the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988, (PITNDPS), nine notorious persons, including six men and three women, were identified and their detention proposals were forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Three cases have been approved and four deferred for further investigation. Two cases were under review.
Besides, five more smugglers, including three men and two women, have been identified and their draft detention proposals are being sent to the MHA.
“There has been a notable increase in drug seizures, reflecting enhanced vigilance and operational efficiency,” the SSP added.
INTER-AGENCY, INTERSTATE COORDINATION
The UT police collaborate with their Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh counterparts for joint raids and intelligence sharing. The collaboration also facilitates use of crime analytics and inter-state databases to track repeat offenders and organised syndicates.
CAPACITY BUILDING
Regular training for police personnel and prosecutors on handling NDPS cases, evidence collection and legal procedures.
COMMUNITY POLICING
Resident Welfare Associations and mohalla committees are encouraged to report suspicious activities and help monitor drug abuse trends within their communities.
Activities like sports tournaments, skill development workshops and mentorship programmes are organised to channelise youth energy positively.
Anti-drug clubs in schools and colleges are formed to promote peer-led advocacy against drug use.
POLICE STRATEGY
Dedicated Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) to identify, track and dismantle drug supply networks operating locally and across state borders.
Use of technology, surveillance and digital forensics to track drug trafficking activities and coordinate interstate crackdowns.
Targeted raids and arrests in coordination with other state police agencies.
Effective prosecution to ensure speedy trials and convictions.
RISING WOMEN INVOLVEMENT
Among 141 arrested drug smugglers this year, 21 were women, hinting at the rising involvement of the fairer sex in the illegal trade. The accused include 14 city residents and seven outsiders. Besides, five women were among 14 habitual offenders whose preventive arrests have been recommended and secured so far. Of the total arrests, 71 were locals and 70 outsiders.
PREVENTIVE ACTION
Holding regular awareness drives in educational institutions to educate youth about the dangers of drug use, in collaboration with NGOs, health professionals and former addicts.
Organising street plays, seminars and rallies to inform citizens about the legal, social and health-related consequences of drug abuse.
Using traditional and digital media platforms to spread anti-drug messages, helpline information and motivational content for youth.
REHABILITATION, SUPPORT
The police assist individuals struggling with substance abuse by connecting them with licensed de-addiction and rehabilitation centres. Emphasis is laid on treating drug addicts as victims needing help rather than criminals, thereby enabling their reintegration into society.
ZERO-TOLERANCE to DRUGS: SSP
“Chandigarh Police’s zero-tolerance strategy represents a balanced approach that addresses both the supply and demand sides of the drug problem. By combining enforcement with compassion, and punitive action with prevention and rehabilitation, the initiative aims to foster a safer, healthier, drug-resilient and drug-free Chandigarh," said Kanwardeep Kaur, SSP, Chandigarh
Chandigarh