The Punjab police with the assistance of the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) have decided in principle to launch an aggressive crackdown against drug peddlers across Punjab besides developing an information sharing mechanism for hunting down such elements.
Presided over by Punjab IGP Arif Nawaz Khan, the decision was taken during a meeting with ANF Regional Director Brigadier Khalid and Colonel Shafiq at the central police office (CPO) on Thursday. The meeting was also attended by AIG Discipline & Inspection Azhar Hameed Khokhar, AIG Operations Inam Ghani, CCPO BA Nasir, DIG Investigation Inam Waheed and AIG Operations Imran Kishwar besides other senior officers. During meeting operation against drug sellers in province and other matters were discussed.
Speaking on the occasion, the IGP said that to purge society from drug sellers and to save youth from this curse, the Punjab police will commence joint operations with the ANF, in addition to information sharing so that all big or small players of this dirty business could be brought to justice.
The IG further said that strict surveillance in the vicinity of educational institutes and hostels during intelligence-based operations (IBOs) will be ensured through which the supplier of drugs to youth could be brought to justice. With the help of ANF, he added, special training sessions for the identification of drugs will be arranged for Punjab police officials which would help them identifying and arresting the elements involved in this heinous trade.
Brigadier Khalid expressed that joint operation will be helpful to break the network of drug sellers. The ANF experts will train police officials in identifying synthetic drugs and how they could control its supply to youth, he added.
"So far, nearly 26,000 cases have been registered against the drug sellers. Of them, 456 cases are against the gangs and individuals who were involved in drug selling near educational institutes and hostels," said AIG Operations Inam Ghani.
Meanwhile, the IGP directed Inam Ghani to ensure smooth coordination with the ANF officials and prepare a summary for the establishment of "Drug Control Units" in Punjab. He said that relevant SHOs and Circle Officers will be held accountable if a large amount of drugs are seized by the joint team.
"Through a coordinated joint strategy, the big fish of this dirty trade should be arrested which will break their network," the IGP said and directed to involve civil society members in this struggle.
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