Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab Chief Spokesperson and MLA Kuldeep Dhaliwal on Friday highlighted the historic initiatives undertaken by the Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government to eradicate drugs and gangsterism from the state, asserting that the government has been relentlessly fighting against these two major social evils for the past four and a half years.
He said the Mann Government remains fully committed to making Punjab completely drug-free and gangster-free, and the campaign will continue until every drug smuggler and gangster is brought to justice. Addressing a press conference at the party office, AAP Punjab Chief Spokesperson and MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said the Punjab Government’s determined campaign against drugs has yielded unprecedented results under the ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ initiative.
“The Bhagwant Singh Mann Government’s battle against drugs will continue until drugs are completely eliminated from Punjab and every single gangster is behind bars. We are committed to securing the future of Punjab’s youth and restoring peace across the state,” he said.
Sharing details of the campaign, Kuldeep Dhaliwal said that from March 1, 2025, to June 25, 2026, the Punjab Police registered a total of 5,091 cases and arrested 7,105 drug smugglers. He said that during this period, the police seized 3,103 kilograms of heroin, 2.4 kilograms of smack, 831 kilograms of opium, 6 quintals and 74 kilograms of poppy husk, 84 quintals and 789 kilograms of charas, 10 quintals of ganja, 4 quintals of cocaine, 5 quintals of ice, and 165 kilograms of intoxicating powder.
“Apart from narcotic substances, the Punjab Police also recovered 2,100 narcotic medicines, injections, and capsules, besides seizing a record ₹18.73 crore in drug money from smugglers,” he added. Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, this is the first government in Punjab to demolish the houses of major drug dealers and smugglers.
“The Punjab Police is working tirelessly at the grassroots level to eliminate the drug menace. However, despite the relentless efforts of our police force, the BJP-led Central Government has failed to extend the cooperation required to secure Punjab’s borders,” he said.
Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal pointed out that drugs and sophisticated weapons are continuously being smuggled into Punjab from Pakistan through drones operating across the state’s 532-kilometre-long international border, creating a major challenge for the Punjab Police.
He said that while the BSF personnel deployed along the border are making every possible effort to stop cross-border smuggling, the absence of advanced anti-drone technology often allows drones to drop drugs and weapons before returning safely across the border.
“Had the Central Government installed the anti-drone systems along Punjab’s international border as repeatedly demanded by the Punjab Government, drugs could have been completely eliminated from Punjab by now,” he said. Questioning the intentions of the BJP-led Central Government, Kuldeep Dhaliwal said that the Centre does not want drugs and gangsterism to end in Punjab.
“They want the atmosphere in Punjab to remain tense and the youth of the state to remain trapped in the menace of drugs. Several drug smugglers from Gujarat have also been arrested in Punjab, which indicates that there is a deeper conspiracy behind this entire issue,” he said.
Highlighting the Punjab Police’s campaign against organised crime, Dhaliwal said that under the DGP’s ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ campaign, raids were conducted at 562 locations across the state, resulting in the arrest of 332 criminals, including 147 dangerous offenders who posed a serious threat of committing major crimes.
He said that the total number of arrests made under the campaign has now reached 40,353. To encourage public participation in the fight against organised crime, the Punjab Government also launched a dedicated helpline number, 93946-93946, enabling citizens to share information about gangsters without fear.
He said the helpline has received overwhelming public support. Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal further said that gangsters operating criminal networks in Punjab while sitting in foreign countries such as Dubai, England, and Canada continue to pose a serious challenge.
“The Bhagwant Mann Government is keeping a close watch on all their hideouts and activities. However, the cooperation of the Central Government is essential to bring these criminals back to India. Unfortunately, due to the BJP’s wrong intentions, that cooperation is not being extended.
If the Centre genuinely cooperates, these issues can be resolved in no time,” he said. Highlighting the welfare initiatives undertaken by the Bhagwant Singh Mann Government, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said that while the government is taking the toughest possible action against drugs, gangsters, and organised crime, it is simultaneously ensuring the welfare and prosperity of the people of Punjab.
He said the government is providing financial assistance of ₹1,000 and ₹1,500 per month to women under the Maavan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna, 600 units of free electricity to every household, cashless health coverage of up to ₹10 lakh for every family through the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, and has undertaken the historic initiative of ensuring canal water reaches farmers’ fields.
“The AAP Government remains committed on every front to ensuring the security, prosperity, and overall development of Punjab. While we are relentlessly eliminating drugs and gangsterism from the state, we are simultaneously strengthening public welfare and improving the lives of every section of society,” Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal concluded.