LUDHIANA, July 5 —Five alleged drug peddlers were arrested during a cordon-and-search operation (CASO) conducted early Friday morning in Talwandi village under Ladhowal police station limits, officials said.
Police Commissioner Swapan Sharma said the arrests followed sustained surveillance of eight suspects flagged for drug trafficking. “Acting on intelligence inputs and public complaints, five of the suspects were apprehended. Over 150 grams of heroin was recovered from their possession,” Sharma told reporters.
All five have a history of criminal activity, with a combined total of 18 FIRs already registered against them. Police added that they were currently out on bail and found in possession of fake identity documents allegedly used to facilitate their illegal operations.
Commissioner Sharma underscored the coordinated efforts of specialised units—including the CIA, crime branch and special cell—to dismantle drug syndicates operating in and around Ludhiana. “In the past four months alone, we’ve registered 467 cases under the NDPS Act, arrested 623 individuals, and seized over 20 kg of heroin, 15 kg of opium, and nearly 300 kg of poppy husk,” he said.
A new bail clause introduced in drug-related cases allows for the cancellation of bail if the accused is caught reoffending. “We’ve already cancelled bail in six such cases,” Sharma added.
Authorities have also begun targeting the assets of those involved in narcotics. So far, 14 properties worth ₹3 crore have been frozen, and 10 illegal or encroached structures tied to drug activity have been demolished.
The crackdown is also being coupled with rehabilitation and public awareness measures. “We have admitted 105 drug addicts to de-addiction centres and 627 individuals are currently receiving treatment at OOAT clinics,” said Sharma. “Additionally, we’ve conducted 345 awareness meetings with residents to educate them on the perils of substance abuse.”
Reinforcing the city’s anti-drug stance, Sharma warned that similar CASO-style operations would continue in identified hotspots. “We’re intensifying patrolling and ensuring that drug criminals have no space to regroup or operate,” he said.
