Jalandhar, February 19 Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav inaugurated a newly constructed "ultra-modern" Anti-Narcotics Task Force office in Jalandhar on Thursday.
This development is part of the state's anti-drug campaign, "Yudh Nashian Virudh," which was launched at the direction of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann.
The new ANTF building, constructed at a cost of Rs 1.60 crore in Police Lines, Jalandhar, covers approximately 9,000 square feet and aims to strengthen efforts to curb drug trafficking.
It has dedicated offices for senior officers, cabins for investigating officers and staff, a reading room, and a conference hall.
To target major drug traffickers and dismantle narcotics networks, Yadav stated that the facility is equipped with modern forensic tools, advanced data analysis systems, forensic data extraction and decryption capabilities, technical interception systems, and cryptocurrency tracking tools.
He said that technically trained personnel are deployed for the effective use of these advanced equipment.
The Punjab Artificial Intelligence System (PAIS 2.0) has been upgraded with voice analysis support, having a database of over 70,000 criminal voices, the DGP said.
Sharing details of the campaign, Yadav said that the Punjab Police has registered 35,133 FIRs and arrested 50,238 drug smugglers since March 1 last year.
He said that the police have seized 2,229 kg of heroin, opium (667 kg), 28 tonnes of poppy husk, charas (68 kg), ganja (783 kg), ICE (29 kg), cocaine (4 kg), 48.64 lakh intoxicant tablets, and Rs 16.68 crore in drug money.
Terming the campaign a major success, the DGP said that it will continue until drugs are eradicated from the state.
He urged people to share information related to drugs confidentially through the Safe Punjab chatbot at 97791-00200.