CHANDIGARH, May 14 -- Punjab Police on Tuesday arrested 156 drug smugglers and seized 1.5 kg of heroin, 16 kg of opium and Rs.5.38 lakh in drug money. With these arrests, the total number of peddlers held has reached 10,802 in just 73 days since the launch of the drive.

Special director general of police (law and order) Arpit Shukla said over 200 police teams, comprising more than 1,500 personnel under the supervision of 97 gazetted officers, carried out raids at 601 locations across the state. These operations led to the registration of 109 FIRs and the questioning of 613 suspicious individuals.

Shukla added that the state government is pursuing a three-pronged EDP strategy-enforcement, deaddiction and prevention-to combat drug menace....