Jammu, 16 June (H.S.): The ongoing anti-drug crackdown across Jammu division has yielded significant results, with more than 700 drug peddlers arrested and assets worth over Rs 45 crore attached or demolished, an official said on Tuesday.

Authorities have also recovered large quantities of narcotics, dismantled drug trafficking networks and intensified rehabilitation efforts under the ‘Nasha Mukt J-K Abhiyan’ to curb the menace of substance abuse and promote a drug-free society, the official said.

He said the information was given at a meeting jointly chaired by Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Ramesh Kumar and Inspector General of Police, Jammu Zone, Bhim Sen Tuti to review the two-month progress of the 100-day anti-drug campaign in the region.

The meeting was informed that a total of 598 FIRs were lodged against drug peddlers, in which 701 peddlers have been arrested to date, while 155 hotspots of drug activity were identified across Jammu, the spokesman said.

He said 24 PIT-NDPS detention orders were also issued against drug smugglers, with recovery of large quantities of narcotics, including over 14 kg of heroin, 49 kg of ganja, 3.712 kg of charas and 204.5 kg of poppy straw.

Illicit crops, including poppy plants over 52 marlas (one marla =272.251 sq feet), poppy straw weighing 25.43 kg, wild cannabis over 44 kanals (one kanal = 0.125 acres) and 476 litres of illegal liquor were also destroyed, the spokesman said.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar