The Punjab Police have launched a statewide crackdown on hawala networks allegedly involved in facilitating the movement of drug money, as part of the third phase of the state government's flagship anti-drug campaign, 'Yudh Nashian Virudh'. The primary objective of this operation is to dismantle the financial backbone of illegal smuggling syndicates that traffic drugs and weapons into the border state.
Action in Amritsar
The Amritsar police have intensified actions against individuals suspected of engaging in unlawful financial transactions linked to the narcotics trade. Acting on intelligence inputs and financial investigations, police teams identified 32 suspected hawala operators. Of these, one accused has been formally arrested, while the remaining individuals have been summoned for questioning. Their financial transactions are being scrutinized to determine their involvement in hawala operations and the transfer of proceeds generated through drug trafficking, said Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar.
Previous Successes
Bhullar stated that since the launch of the 'Yudh Nashian Virudh' campaign, the city police have arrested 21 hawala operators and recovered Rs 1.80 crore in suspected drug-related funds. Those arrested in previous operations include two Afghan nationals, a dry-fruit trader, a hosiery businessman from Ludhiana, a Nigerian supplier, two Karnataka residents operating from Delhi, and an accused based in Rajasthan. The police believe these individuals played significant roles in laundering and transferring drug proceeds through illegal hawala channels.
Ongoing Investigations
Further investigations are underway to identify additional beneficiaries, assets, and financial networks connected to these operations. The state aims to develop a preventive approach rather than a reactive one, emphasizing the need to curb the financial flow that sustains the drug trade.
