‘Drug Trafficking Cannot Flourish Without Police’, Says Governor Kataria

July

2026

Women are emerging as key drivers in Panjab’s campaign against drug abuse—Yudh Nashean Virudh (war on drugs) launched on 1 Mar 2025—with families increasingly stepping in to support treatment and recovery. Officials and participants at an awareness program in Moga pointed to the role played by women in identifying addiction early on within a family. Since drug addiction often hits families hard, triggering financial stress, emotional strain, and domestic conflict, officials said families are now recognizing addiction as an illness and are playing a more active role in recovery by motivating patients and preventing relapse. At the program, Ludhiana resident Ragini Kaur said, ‘My husband was a drug addict since before our marriage. But I only came to know about it once we started living together. We had lost all hope when someone guided us to take him to a drug-de-addiction and rehabilitation center. That helped. Today he is completely sober.’ Additionally, the Panjab government has introduced an internationally accepted drug de-addiction treatment known as Methadone maintenance Therapy (MMT) for people with severe opioid dependence. Health Minister Balbir Singh said the expansion of MMT facilities is part of the state’s anti-drug campaign. Six dedicated methadone clinics are now operational across Panjab at Government Medical College, Faridkot; Civil Hospital, Ludhiana; Government Medical College, Patiala; and district hospitals in Gurdaspur, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, and Jalandhar. The government plans to establish six more MMT centers in the coming months. Furthermore, Panjab Police says it has arrested more than 68,850 alleged drug traffickers and attached or confiscated assets worth USD 33.28M during the 500 days of the war on drugs campaign. Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav added that 52,432 First Information Reports have been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 during this period, and the Safe Punjab Anti-Drug Helpline received 46,342 anonymous tip-offs leading to the arrest of 22,960 alleged traffickers. Commenting on the drug situation, Panjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria in an interview said, ‘I have seen young people lose their lives within months of becoming addicted to synthetic drugs. Earlier, liquor abuse would kill in years, but this only takes months.’ He added ‘I also feel drug trafficking cannot flourish without the involvement of the police and the administration’ (earlier coverage).