Punjab Police intensified its anti-drug offensive on Sunday by launching OPS SEAL-XIII, sealing 92 entry and exit points across 10 inter-state border districts to intercept drug traffickers and bootleggers. The action marked the 78th consecutive day of the states anti-drug campaign Yudh Nashian De Virudh, launched under the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.   The coordinated crackdown led to the arrest of 136 drug smugglers, seizure of 11.3 kg heroin, and recovery of Rs 3.48 lakh drug money. Police also conducted raids at 490 locations, registered 109 FIRs, and checked 532 suspicious persons, said Special DGP (Law and Order) Arpit Shukla.   Over 1,000 police personnel, supervised by Inspectors and DSPs, were deployed at border sealing points in Pathankot, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Fazilka, Ropar, SAS Nagar, Patiala, Sangrur, Mansa, Hoshiarpur, and Bathinda — all sharing borders with Haryana, Himachal, Rajasthan, and UT Chandigarh.   As part of OPS SEAL-XIII, 4,244 vehicles were thoroughly checked at the nakas; 511 were challaned, and 39 were impounded.   The operation also focused on rehabilitation. As part of the states three-pronged Enforcement, De-addiction, and Prevention (EDP) strategy, police teams motivated 103 individuals to opt for treatment at de-addiction centres.   With these arrests, the total number of drug smugglers nabbed in 78 days has reached 11,860, reinforcing the Mann governments zero-tolerance policy on drugs. These operations will continue relentlessly until the drug menace is wiped out from Punjab, said Special DGP Shukla.   International Narco Cartel Busted in Punjab; 10.2 Kg Heroin Seized, 3 Arrested Chandigarh/Amritsar: In a major breakthrough against cross-border drug smuggling, Amritsar Commissionerate Police busted an international narco-trafficking cartel, arresting three operatives and seizing 10.2 kg heroin, said Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav on Sunday.   The accused — Akashdeep Singh (22), Akash alias Mota (19), and Sandeep Singh (30), all from Tarn Taran — were in contact with Pakistan-based smugglers who were using drones to drop heroin consignments across the international border. Their network had been active for the past six years, the DGP added.   The operation, part of the ongoing Yudh Nashian De Virudh campaign, also led to the seizure of two motorcycles used for drug delivery. DGP Yadav said that the investigation is focused on tracing the backward and forward linkages of this international network.   Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said that the arrests followed a tip-off and swift action by a team led by CIA Incharge Amolakdeep Singh under senior officers. Akashdeep and Akash alias Mota were first held near Gurudwara Bohri Sahib Road with 1.01 kg heroin, while Sandeep was later nabbed from Chabhal Road with 9.2 kg heroin.   Sandeep Singh, the kingpin, is believed to have trafficked over 200 kg of heroin since 2018-19. Police have secured remand to uncover deeper layers of the network. More arrests are likely, Bhullar said.   An FIR under NDPS Act Sections 21-C, 23, and 29 has been registered at PS Islamabad, Amritsar.

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