200 cops found involved in drug peddling

LAHORE:A report compiled by the surveillance branch of Punjab Police has revealed that more than 200 police officers and officials are involved in drug peddling in the province.

The report that has been forwarded to higher authorities, mentions the names of 234 police officers and officials of 10 districts of the province, including Lahore. The report says that some 30 officers of Lahore police are mentioned as facilitators of drug dealers and 35 cases have been registered against them.

The report features 62 police employees of Faisalabad and some of them are posted as sub-inspectors in different police stations. ASIs, constables and drivers of various police stations have also been mentioned in the report and two officials are in jail due to their involvement in drug peddling. The details of related drug gangs of cops are also described in the report. The spokesperson for the Punjab Police expressed ignorance regarding the report.

220 drug peddlers arrested

Punjab police conducted 486 raids across the province, registered 217 cases and arrested 220 drug peddlers.

Spokesman Punjab Police said that 8,581 raids were conducted on the hideouts of drug dealers throughout the province during 32 days. Around 4,346 cases were registered and 4,740 drug pushers were arrested. 3,385 kg of charas, 18 kg of Ice, 61 kg of heroin, 170 kg of opium and 49,374 liters of alcohol were recovered from the possession of the accused.

Meanwhile, Lahore Police is resolutely committed to a drug-free Lahore. A grand operation is underway against the nefarious drug trade involving notorious elements. During this year, 2,500 cases against drug peddlers have been registered, resulting in the arrest of 2,584 individuals. The Lahore Police spokesperson stated this in a statement issued here on Friday.

The spokesperson revealed that the arrests had led to the recovery of over 1,966 kilograms of hashish, more than 72 kilograms of heroin, over 34 kilograms of ice, and 16,265 liters of alcohol. Among the arrested, 500 individuals from the Cantonment Division, 246 from the Civil Lines Division, 638 from the City Division, 405 from Iqbal Town Division, 380 from the Saddar Division, and 415 from the Model Town Division have been apprehended.

Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Bilal Siddique Kamyana emphasised that those involved in the illicit drug trade are enemies of society and deserve no leniency.

He directed relevant officers to implement a zero-tolerance policy regarding drug purchase and sale, curb online drug transmission, and disrupt supply chain. The CCPO directed to expedite intelligence-based operations surrounding the educational institutions and hostels to eradicate the spread of drug peddlers over there. Adding that the scope of drug peddlers is being narrow down by utilizing the latest technology.