EDITOR-IN-CHIEF.VINAY KOCHHAR/AMRITSAR/CHANDIGARH.
Drug abuse has been a major issue in Punjab politics for nearly two decades, a matter that hasn’t ended with the change of government. After 2007, the Akali Dal-BJP government came to power, followed by the Congress government in 2017 and the Aam Aadmi Party government in 2022. All three governments took action against drug abuse, but ahead of the 2027 assembly elections, the question remains: how much has the root of drug abuse weakened after so many years of action, and how far has the youth been distanced from it?
According to available government data from the police, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), and central investigative agencies, the scale of action appears to be the greatest during the AAP government. However, the increased number of cases and arrests is not a direct indicator of drug consumption. They may also be a result of increased police activity and increased case registration. Now, the focus is not just on arrests and seizures, but on disrupting supply lines and larger networks.
Akali-BJP Government: A Rs 6,000 Crore Network Adds to Political Heat
The Akali-BJP government ruled from 2007 to 2017. According to NCRB data, 30,422 arrests were made in NDPS cases between 2007 and 2011. Between 2012 and 2015, 58,511 arrests were recorded: 11,715 in 2012, 16,821 in 2013, 17,084 in 2014, and 12,171 in 2015. According to the NCB, 601.88 kg of heroin was seized in Punjab in 2015.
During this period, former DSP and Arjuna Award winner
Wrestler Jagdish Bhola was arrested in 2013 for synthetic drug trafficking. Police estimated the size of the network to be worth approximately Rs 6,000 crore. Later, several prominent figures came under investigation. Bhola was convicted in 2019, and in 2024, 17 accused, including Bhola, were convicted in a money laundering case, ordering the confiscation of assets worth approximately ₹12.37 crore.
From Congress to AAP: The scope of action expanded, but questions remain
In 2017, the Congress government formed a Special Task Force. Available data from 2017 to 2021 shows 52,255 NDPS cases and 68,064 arrests. Approximately 2,412-2,415 kg of heroin was recovered. In December 2021, a case was registered against Akali leader and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia under the NDPS Act. He denied the charges and was later granted bail.
In March 2022, the AAP government came to power under the leadership of Bhagwant Mann and launched the “War Against Drugs” campaign. According to the government, from 2022 to 2026, 73,541 NDPS cases were registered and 98,596 people were arrested. Approximately 5,979 kg of heroin, 93 kg of ICE, 3,583 kg of opium, and 87 million pharmaceutical tablets and capsules were seized. Assets worth over ₹772 crore were seized or demolished, and drug money worth ₹54.47 crore was recovered. The conviction rate is reported to be around 89 percent.
The investigation led from smugglers to police and politicians.
In 2012, Ranjeet Singh Kandola, alias Raja Kandola, was arrested. His associate, Vaniya Khanna, was caught with 2 kg of heroin and sentenced to 10 years in prison. In 2013, NRI Anoop Singh Kahlo was arrested with 540 grams of heroin. Another 16 kg was recovered from his car, and 10 kg from his associate’s car. This investigation revealed the Bhola network.
Along with Bhola, the names of pharmaceutical businessman Jagjit Singh Chahal and former Akali leader Maninder Singh “Bittu” Aulakh also surfaced. In 2017, former police inspector Inderjit Singh was arrested. 4 kg of heroin, 3 kg of smack, weapons, and cash were recovered from his government quarters. He was accused of protecting drug suspects. In 2023, SSP Rajjit Singh Hundal was dismissed from service. He is absconding in drug and corruption cases and has been declared a proclaimed offender.
In 2020, former SSB member and Akali leader Anwar Masih was arrested. 188-194 kg of heroin and drug processing lab equipment were recovered from his house. Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira was arrested by the ED in 2021 and by the Punjab Police in 2023. In the original case, 2 kg of heroin was recovered from Gurdev Singh. Khaira was granted bail by the High Court in 2024, but he denied the charges.
In 2022, Majithia surrendered in the NDPS case. In 2025, he was arrested in a case involving alleged disproportionate assets of Rs 540 crore. In 2024, former MLA Satkar Kaur Gehri was arrested in a 128-gram heroin case and expelled from the BJP. In 2025, police constable Amandeep Kaur was caught with 17 grams of heroin and dismissed from service.
Khaira’s former PSO Joga Singh was arrested from Delhi airport in 2025 in a 2015 case. In March 2026, 18 kg of heroin was recovered from Tarn Taran Sarpanch Paramjit Singh alias Pamma. This was linked to a cross-border network.###USA###UK###CANADA###AMRITSAR###CHANDIGARH###DRUGS###AUSTRALIA###NEWZEALAND###SINGAPORE###