Chandigarh: Police have made 1,000 arrests and detentions in a crackdown targeting regional drug distribution networks and hotspots.The month-long enforcement drive targeted drug peddlers through raids, land demolitions, and heavy surveillance. Enhanced policing, community outreach, and high conviction rates mark Chandigarh’s intensified strategy to dismantle drug supply chains.Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Kanwardeep Kaur stated that: “The campaign, initiated under the direction of UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria, is meant to dismantle supply networks through enforcement, preventive action, community participation, and rehabilitation.”As part of the crackdown, police identified drug hotspots for intensive patrolling and surveillance. They also identified locations where drug peddlers had encroached upon govt land, demolishing structures and initiating legal action against building violations.In coordination with the drugs control wing, police raided chemist shops and seized controlled medications from pharmacies. They also identified drug users, admitting individuals to rehabilitation centres.Awareness campaigns under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan engaged residents, while workers, students, and National Service Scheme (NSS) cadets were designated as “Nasha Mukt Mitr” to encourage community involvement.Senior police officers, subdivisional police officers (SDPOs), and station house officers (SHOs) hosted public meetings. Official figures indicate Chandigarh Police recorded a rising NDPS conviction rate through Sept 2026, up from the previous year.The campaign incorporated youth engagement initiatives, including a Sept marathon that attracted numerous participants. In Oct, police organized a volleyball tournament themed “100% Teams, 0% Drugs” honouring the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.A contingent of police officers from Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory, and Ladakh joined the National Motorcycle Rally 2026 under the theme “Fight Against Drugs” while travelling to Ekta Nagar, Gujarat.Police confirmed the drive will continue targeting drug traffickers, mapping supply chains, maintaining hotspot surveillance, and expanding rehabilitation services.
