Chandigarh: In a major step aimed at disrupting the financial channels supporting the illegal drug trade, Punjab Police has launched a three-day statewide special operation targeting hawala operators allegedly involved in moving and concealing proceeds generated through narcotics trafficking.
The latest initiative forms part of the ongoing “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, the state government’s anti-drug drive focused on dismantling both the supply chain and financial infrastructure of drug networks operating across Punjab.
Officials said law enforcement agencies are now concentrating on individuals and networks suspected of facilitating the transfer of illicit funds, which authorities believe play a crucial role in sustaining organized drug trafficking activities.
According to Punjab Police, the campaign has already yielded significant results. Since the launch of the anti-drug initiative, 73 alleged hawala operators have been arrested, while nearly ₹10 crore linked to hawala transactions has been recovered.
The crackdown has also extended to properties and assets believed to have been acquired through proceeds of crime. Authorities revealed that assets valued at more than ₹830 crore have been frozen under provisions of Section 68F of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act since 2022.
Police data further showed that since March 1 this year, enforcement agencies have recovered over ₹20 crore suspected to be linked to drug-related earnings. In addition, 1,727 proposals seeking the freezing of properties connected to narcotics cases have received approval from the designated competent authority.
Senior officials reiterated that Punjab Police is pursuing a zero-tolerance policy against drug trafficking and the financial networks that support it. They emphasized that targeting money trails, illegal financial transactions and unlawfully acquired assets remains a key strategy in weakening organized criminal groups involved in the narcotics trade.
The department said sustained legal action against traffickers, hawala facilitators and beneficiaries of drug proceeds would continue as part of broader efforts to eliminate the economic foundations of the drug menace and move towards the goal of a drug-free Punjab.
