Drive against drug smugglers in Ludhiana: Assets worth ₹29 cr of 85 peddlers attached so far

The figures were shared during a meeting at the Police Lines, Ludhiana rural, on Friday with members of the village defence committees (VDCs) and ward defence committees (WDCs) as part of the ongoing anti-drug campaign

Properties worth ₹29.31 crore belonging to 85 alleged drug suppliers in 62 cases have been attached since March 1 last year, when the state government launched its anti-drug campaign, Ludhiana rural police said on Friday. Proposals for the attachment of another ₹30.68 crore worth of properties linked to 89 accused in 67 cases have been forwarded to the competent authority, officials said.

Proposals for attachment of another ₹30 crore worth of properties forwarded, say Ludhiana rural police. (HT FILE)

The figures were shared during a meeting at the Police Lines, Ludhiana rural, on Friday with members of the village defence committees (VDCs) and ward defence committees (WDCs) as part of the ongoing anti-drug campaign.

Addressing the meeting, deputy inspector general of police, Ludhiana range, Sandeep Goyal, and Ludhiana rural SSP Ankur Gupta said the campaign had so far resulted in the registration of 1,726 cases and the arrest of 2,322 accused. Police said substantial quantities of narcotics, illegal weapons and proceeds allegedly generated through the drug trade had also been recovered.

According to the police, the seizures included 22.782 kg of heroin, 8.613 kg of opium, 32 quintals and 32.415 kg of poppy husk, 570 grams of ganja, 115 grams of sulfa and 425 grams of charas. Police also reported the recovery of 37,208 intoxicating tablets/capsules, 5 grams of amphetamine, 2 grams of ICE and 22.8 kg of additional poppy husk.

The SSP added that the meeting with VDC and WDC members was aimed at strengthening community participation in the campaign against drugs. Police officials discussed the situation prevailing in villages and localities and the impact of the anti-drug drive.

The officials stressed the need for closer coordination between the police and local committees to identify drug-related activities and prevent the spread of narcotics at the grassroots level.