LAHORE: The Punjab Police, led by Inspector General Dr. Usman Anwar, conducted several intelligence-based operations against criminal activities throughout the province in January 2024.
The police force conducted operations targeting criminal elements across all districts, with particular emphasis on the bustling city of Lahore.
According to the spokesperson of the Punjab Police, a total of 6,500 raids were carried out on suspected hideouts of drug dealers, resulting in the registration of 3,650 cases and the arrest of 3,660 individuals involved in illicit drug trafficking.
The operations yielded a significant haul, including the seizure of 2,030 kilograms of hashish, 39 kilograms of heroin, 8 kilograms of ice, and a staggering 60,400 litres of illegal liquor.
Furthermore, the crackdown on criminal syndicates led to the recovery of substantial assets, including cash amounting to 286 million rupees, 92 tolas of gold, stolen property valued at 263 million rupees, 1,550 motorcycles and vehicles, 730 mobile phones, and 170 cattle.
To curb the proliferation of illegal weapons, law enforcement confiscated 2,855 pistols, 252 rifles, 35 revolvers, 231 guns, and 118 Kalashnikovs from individuals involved in weapon-related offences.
The Punjab Police also made significant strides in apprehending wanted criminals, with 8,310 advertised offenders, 5,870 absconders, and 2,266 target offenders arrested during the operations. Additionally, 735 gangs of dangerous criminals were disbanded, resulting in the recovery of 183 million rupees.
Moreover, the police service centers remained active in providing essential services to the public, issuing a total of 71,780 certificates, 15,025 tenancy registrations, 66,030 verifications, and processing 9,864 missing reports.
The Traffic Police Department contributed to maintaining law and order on the roads by issuing licenses to 1,293,900 citizens and collecting fines totalling 459 million rupees for violations of traffic laws. Furthermore, stringent measures were taken against smog-related offences, with 18,410 challans issued, 8,050 vehicles impounded, and fines amounting to 6 million rupees imposed.
Meanwhile, the Punjab Highway Patrol conducted thorough checks on 1,995,500 vehicles and interacted with 1,725,600 citizens on the highways to ensure public safety.
In a specialized campaign targeting electricity theft, 8,435 cases were registered, leading to the arrest of 2,850 individuals involved in illegal connections.
Inspector General Dr. Usman Anwar commended the exemplary performance of the police teams and emphasized the continuation of crackdown operations, particularly in light of the upcoming elections, to ensure the security and safety of all citizens across the province.
