India, April 26 -- Punjab's ongoing anti-drug campaign, 'Yudh Nasheyan Virudh', has evolved into a sustained and high-impact enforcement drive under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, with new data indicating a sharp escalation in action against narcotics networks across the state.

Figures from 2022 to 2026 (to date) reveal that 73,541 NDPS Act cases have been registered, marking an increase of over 40 percent compared to 52,255 cases recorded between 2017 and 2021. Arrests have also risen significantly, touching 98,596-up nearly 45 percent from 68,064 in the previous five-year period-reflecting the scale and consistency of the crackdown.

The intensification of enforcement is particularly visible in seizure trends, pointing...