Jalandhar, February 19 – In a move to intensify the ongoing drug eradication campaign, ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’, Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav inaugurated the ultra-modern office of the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), Jalandhar Range, on Thursday.
The state-of-the-art building, costing Rs 1.60 crore, is designed to enhance operational efficiency and house the range’s expanded capabilities to combat drug trafficking more effectively.
It includes dedicated offices for Gazetted Officers, cabins for Investigating Officers and support staff, a Reader’s room, and a modern conference room.
DGP Yadav said this facility is equipped with cutting-edge tools to target major drug traffickers and dismantle international narcotics networks operating in the state.
He said the specialized unit features mobile and computer forensic tools, advanced data analysis systems, forensic data extraction, decryption, and analysis capabilities, as well as equipment for technical interception and cryptocurrency tracking.
"Recognizing the critical need for technological upgradation in drug enforcement, we have not only provided the infrastructure but also deployed a dedicated team of technical staff proficient in operating this advanced equipment," said the DGP.
He said that the ANTF has further upgraded its technical capabilities with the Punjab Artificial Intelligence System (PAIS 2.0), which now supports voice analysis using a database of over 70,000 criminal voices, among other state-of-the-art features.
Sharing the outcome of the ‘Yudh Nashe Virudh’ campaign, DGP Yadav said that the police have registered 35,133 first information reports (FIRs) and arrested 50,238 drug smugglers since March 1, and have recovered 2,229 kg of heroin, 667 kg of opium, 28 tons of poppy husk, 68 kg of charas, 783 kg of ganja, 29 kg of ICE, 4 kg of cocaine, 48.64 lakh intoxicant pills and tablets, and Rs 16.68 crore of drug money from their possession.
DGP Yadav termed the ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign a huge success and said that this campaign will continue until the scourge of drugs is eradicated from the state.
He also urged people to report drug-related information confidentially through the Safe Punjab Chatbot 97791-00200.