On the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the police have intensified crackdown on drug-peddlers under the Drug-Free Punjab campaign.
The police are carrying out raids on hideouts of drug-dealers and smugglers across the province including Lahore. According to a spokesperson for Punjab Police, 289 raids were conducted on hideouts of drug-dealers in one day, in which 141 suspects were arrested, while 135 cases were registered.
The police recovered 50-kg hashish, 1-kg heroin, half-a-kilogram ice and 1,563 litres of liquor from the accused. During the ongoing anti-narcotics operations since February 26, the police teams conducted 33,572 raids, in which more than 16,000 suspects were arrested, and 15,693 cases registered. During these operations, 9,366-kg hashish, 162-kg heroin, 269-kg opium, more than 45-kg ice and more than 1,677,000-litre liquor were recovered.
The police have ramped up its security measures, conducting extensive search and combing operations in the city.
The police completed 1,922 search operations this year, demonstrating a strong commitment to maintaining peace during the holy month of Muharram.
A police spokesperson revealed that checking of 52,863 houses, 25,400 tenants, and 178,631 individuals were conducted. Additionally, searches have been carried out around 80 mosques and seminaries, 17 Imambargahs, 19 shrines, 56 markets, and shopping centers as well as 215 schools, colleges, and universities.
The operations have led to action against 397 individuals under the Tenancy Act, the apprehension of 145 wanted criminals, and the detention of 44 individuals under Section 55/109 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Furthermore, 60 cases related to illegal arms and 22 drug-related cases have been registered. The records of individuals at 154 hotels, 105 hostels, 78 factories, and 3,692 shops have also been scrutinized. CCPO Lahore Bilal Siddique Kamyana has directed an acceleration of search operations ahead of Muharram, emphasizing the police forces dedication to ensuring peace during this period.
He mandated daily search operations around Imambargahs and central procession routes.
Kamyana instructed police teams to increase patrolling in sensitive areas and supervisory officers to personally oversee the operations.
Enhanced monitoring and checking at the city’s entry and exit points, as well as inter-provincial checkpoints, had also been ordered to ensure comprehensive security measures.
