Punjab Police Strengthens War Against Drugs: DGP Gaurav Yadav Unveils High-Tech ANTF Intelligence Hub in Mohali
Punjab Police has intensified its anti-narcotics campaign with the inauguration of advanced ANTF intelligence and surveillance facilities in Mohali. DGP Gaurav Yadav announced investments exceeding ₹37 crore to modernize anti-drug enforcement across the state.
Punjab Police Unveils Advanced Anti-Narcotics Infrastructure as Fight Against Drug Networks Intensifies
Chandigarh/Mohali: In a major boost to Punjab’s ongoing crackdown on narcotics trafficking and organized drug syndicates, Punjab Police has unveiled a new set of cutting-edge intelligence, surveillance, and investigative facilities at the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) Police Station in SAS Nagar (Mohali).
The facilities were inaugurated by Gaurav Yadav, Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab, who described the initiative as a crucial step toward building a more technology-enabled and intelligence-driven anti-drug enforcement system.
Senior police officials, including Kuldeep Singh and Nilabh Kishore, were present during the inauguration ceremony, underscoring the importance being attached to strengthening the state’s anti-narcotics infrastructure.
Mohali ANTF Facility Becomes Nerve Centre of Punjab’s Anti-Drug Strategy
The ANTF Police Station in SAS Nagar has rapidly evolved into one of Punjab Police’s most important operational centres in the fight against drugs.
Originally inaugurated in August 2024 by Bhagwant Singh Mann, the facility has now been upgraded with several specialized units designed to support modern investigations and intelligence gathering.
Among the newly launched facilities are:
Special Intelligence and Technical Unit (SITU)
Dedicated Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) Room
Advanced Interrogation Room
MHC Room
Office of the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP)
Police officials say these additions will transform the facility into a comprehensive intelligence and investigation hub capable of supporting anti-drug operations across Punjab.
Special Intelligence Unit to Target Drug Syndicates
The newly established Special Intelligence and Technical Unit is expected to become one of the most powerful tools in Punjab Police’s anti-narcotics arsenal.
The unit has been designed to:
Monitor organized drug trafficking networks
Gather actionable intelligence
Conduct technical surveillance operations
Track suspicious communications
Analyze digital evidence
Support real-time investigations
Officials believe that the use of technology-backed intelligence will significantly improve the force’s ability to identify, monitor, and dismantle drug syndicates operating within and beyond Punjab.
DGP Gaurav Yadav Emphasizes Scientific Policing
Addressing officers during the inauguration, DGP Gaurav Yadav stressed that traditional policing methods alone are no longer sufficient to combat sophisticated criminal organizations.
According to him, the integration of technology, data analytics, and intelligence-based operations is essential for effectively tackling narcotics-related crimes.
The newly inaugurated infrastructure is expected to strengthen several critical aspects of policing, including:
Scientific investigation of drug cases
Collection and examination of digital evidence
Technical surveillance and monitoring
Intelligence gathering and analysis
Access to integrated criminal databases
Better coordination among enforcement agencies
Officials say these capabilities will help investigators build stronger cases and improve the quality and speed of anti-narcotics operations.
ANTF Expansion Underway Across Punjab
The Mohali facility is only one part of a much larger modernization effort being undertaken by Punjab Police.
According to DGP Yadav, state-of-the-art ANTF complexes are already functioning in:
Patiala
Jalandhar
Bathinda
Meanwhile, additional ANTF infrastructure is currently being developed in:
Ludhiana
Ferozepur
Punjab Police has also secured land for a dedicated ANTF complex in Amritsar, indicating that the anti-drug enforcement network will continue expanding in the coming years.
Officials believe the statewide presence of ANTF units will improve intelligence collection, operational coordination, and rapid response capabilities.
More Than ₹37 Crore Invested in ANTF Modernisation
The Punjab Government has backed its anti-drug campaign with substantial financial support, allocating significant resources to modernize the ANTF’s operational capabilities.
Financial Allocations
Financial Year 2024-25
₹11.50 crore allocated for modernization initiatives
Financial Year 2025-26
₹11.50 crore earmarked for additional upgrades
Additional Technical Enhancement Grant
₹14.16 crore sanctioned
Total Investment
₹37.16 crore
The funds are being used for:
Advanced surveillance technologies
Secure communication systems
Cyber intelligence tools
Digital investigation platforms
Data analytics infrastructure
Technical monitoring equipment
Officials say these investments are aimed at keeping pace with increasingly sophisticated drug trafficking operations that rely heavily on technology and digital networks.
ANTF Named State NCORD Secretariat
In another important announcement, DGP Yadav revealed that Punjab’s Anti-Narcotics Task Force has been designated as the State NCORD Secretariat.
NCORD, or the Narco Coordination Centre, serves as a mechanism for coordinating anti-drug efforts among various government departments and enforcement agencies.
With its new role, ANTF will function as the central coordinating body responsible for:
Sharing intelligence among agencies
Monitoring anti-drug operations
Reviewing enforcement outcomes
Facilitating inter-departmental coordination
Tracking implementation of anti-narcotics policies
Strengthening cooperation between state and central agencies
Officials expect this move to improve information sharing and create a more unified approach to combating narcotics trafficking.
Intelligence-Led Policing at the Core of Punjab’s Anti-Drug Campaign
Punjab Police has increasingly shifted toward intelligence-led policing as part of its long-term strategy against narcotics.
Rather than relying solely on conventional enforcement methods, the force is investing in:
Integrated surveillance systems
Cyber intelligence capabilities
Digital forensic tools
Data-driven investigations
Inter-agency intelligence networks
The objective is not only to arrest traffickers but also to dismantle entire supply chains and criminal ecosystems that sustain the narcotics trade.
Officials believe that better intelligence gathering and scientific investigation techniques can significantly improve conviction rates while reducing the ability of organized drug networks to operate within the state.
Punjab Police Reiterates Commitment to a Drug-Free Future
Reaffirming the force’s determination to tackle the drug menace, DGP Gaurav Yadav said Punjab Police remains committed to disrupting supply chains, dismantling organized narcotics syndicates, and protecting communities from the harmful effects of drug abuse.
The inauguration of the new facilities in Mohali marks another important chapter in Punjab’s anti-drug campaign, signaling a growing emphasis on technology, intelligence, and coordinated enforcement.
With more than ₹37 crore being invested in modernization and additional ANTF facilities being developed across the state, Punjab Police is positioning itself to take a more aggressive and technologically sophisticated approach in its battle against narcotics trafficking.
Key Highlights
DGP Gaurav Yadav inaugurated advanced ANTF facilities in Mohali.
New infrastructure includes SITU, CCTNS Room, Interrogation Room, and DSP Office.
Punjab has invested over ₹37.16 crore in ANTF modernization.
ANTF complexes are operational in Patiala, Jalandhar, and Bathinda.
New facilities are under construction in Ludhiana and Ferozepur.
ANTF Punjab has been designated as the State NCORD Secretariat.
Focus remains on intelligence-led policing, surveillance, and scientific investigations.
