Punjab has been fighting a long and difficult battle against illegal drugs. Every single day, the Punjab Police conduct raids, arrest peddlers, register FIRs, and send offenders to jail. The scale of enforcement is massive. According to official statements, over 85,000 drug smugglers have been arrested in the last three and a half years, and around 63,000 FIRs have been registered against drug traffickers. In just one major campaign, Yudh Nashian Virudh, the police arrested 41,775 smugglers in 299 days. These numbers show the intensity of the crackdown. Yet, despite this enormous effort, illegal drugs continue to circulate in Punjab.
This raises a critical question: If the police are arresting thousands of smugglers and registering FIRs daily, why is the drug problem still not eliminated? The answer lies in the complexity of the drug ecosystem.
Punjab’s drug network is multi-layered and deeply entrenched. It involves international smugglers, interstate traffickers, local distributors, and street-level peddlers. When the police arrest one peddler, another quickly replaces them. The network is designed to survive disruptions. Even during a single-day statewide raid, the police arrested 115 smugglers and registered 87 FIRs across 285 locations. But these arrests often target the lower rungs of the chain, not the masterminds who operate from outside the state or even outside the country.
Another challenge is that most daily arrests involve small-time peddlers or addicts caught with minor quantities. While these arrests are necessary, they do not dismantle the core supply chain. The top-level suppliers—those who control the flow of heroin, opium, and synthetic drugs—are harder to trace and prosecute. Without reaching the top of the hierarchy, the drug market continues to regenerate.
Systemic weaknesses also play a role. Corruption, even in small pockets, can weaken enforcement. When influential suppliers secure bail easily or escape punishment due to weak evidence, the deterrent effect of arrests diminishes. Slow court processes and delayed trials further reduce the impact of FIRs and arrests.
The demand side of the problem is equally powerful. As long as there is demand, supply will find a way. Punjab has a large population struggling with addiction. Arresting suppliers without reducing demand creates a cycle where new suppliers emerge to meet the needs of addicts. Rehabilitation, awareness, and community support are essential to break this cycle.
Socio-economic factors also contribute significantly. Unemployment, poverty, and lack of opportunities push some individuals toward drug peddling as a source of income. Policing alone cannot solve these deeper issues. Without addressing the root causes, the drug trade will continue to attract new participants.
To truly eliminate illegal drugs from Punjab, a comprehensive strategy is required. This includes strong action against top-level suppliers, better coordination between state and central agencies, fast-track courts for drug cases, widespread rehabilitation programs, and community-based awareness campaigns. Economic development and job creation are equally important to reduce the number of people drawn into the drug trade.
In conclusion, the daily efforts of Punjab Police—reflected in 85,000+ arrests, 63,000 FIRs, and tens of thousands of smugglers caught in special campaigns—are commendable and necessary. But illegal drugs cannot be eliminated through arrests alone. The problem is too complex, too widespread, and too deeply rooted in social and economic realities. Only a long-term, multi-dimensional approach involving law enforcement, government agencies, communities, and families can bring lasting change. Eliminating drugs from Punjab requires not just action, but transformation.