In a major initiative to intensify Punjab's battle against drug trafficking, Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav inaugurated the Anti-Narcotics Task Force’s (ANTF) new Support Services Unit at the ANTF Headquarters on Thursday. This new unit is part of an ongoing effort to enhance the state’s drug control capabilities with advanced infrastructure and intelligence support.

The event saw the presence of key law enforcement officials, including Special DGP ANTF Kuldeep Singh, Special DGP Internal Security RN Dhoke, ADGP ANTF Nilabh Kishore, and ADGP Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) Promod Ban. In his remarks, DGP Yadav underlined the heightened intelligence capacities this unit would bring to Punjab’s anti-drug operations. “Equipped with cutting-edge technology, our specialised unit is better prepared to safeguard Punjab’s future from narcotics,” DGP Yadav stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter). The Support Services Unit is designed to conduct thorough analyses of drug-related data, including communications, transactions, and trafficker profiles. With this new resource, the ANTF aims to tackle drug trafficking with greater precision and effectiveness.

This launch follows the establishment of the ANTF’s Intelligence and Technical Unit (SITU) just a few months ago, which was developed at a cost of Rs 11 crore. The SITU’s capabilities include high-level software systems focused on analysing drug data and monitoring trafficker profiles. The newly inaugurated Support Services Unit was built with an additional budget of Rs 1.28 crore and features upgraded office facilities, specifically designed to enhance the task force’s efficiency and response in anti-drug operations.

DGP Yadav highlighted that the latest unit aligns with Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s comprehensive budget allocation for strengthening ANTF’s infrastructure and resources. Mann had previously allocated Rs 14.6 crore for the task force, dedicating Rs 11 crore toward technical advancements and Rs 3 crore to physical infrastructure upgrades.

With these continued investments and the establishment of state-of-the-art intelligence units, Punjab’s anti-narcotics efforts are expected to deliver impactful results in the fight against drug trafficking, bolstering the state’s goal of a safer, drug-free future.