Punjab Police Intensify Crackdown as Five Suspected Drug Dealers Killed in Lahore

The Crime Control Department (CCD) in Lahore reported the deaths of five suspected drug traffickers during two separate encounters on Tuesday. According to officials, the suspects were killed by firing from their own accomplices while in police custody.

In the first incident in Iqbal Town, CCD officers were escorting four suspects—Ashiq, Azeem, Khurram, and Aslam—for narcotics recovery when unidentified armed men attacked. Police returned fire, and when the shooting ended, the four suspects were found dead, allegedly struck by bullets from their accomplices.

A second encounter occurred in Chuhng, where another suspect, Javed, was being taken for recovery. Armed men opened fire on CCD police, leading to a shoot‑out. Javed was fatally injured by shots fired from his own associates.

Police shifted the bodies to the city morgue for autopsy and registered cases against the unidentified attackers, who fled the scene.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Police announced a province‑wide crackdown, arresting 30 drug dealers in the past 24 hours. Authorities recovered 39 kilograms of charas, nine kilograms of heroin, and one kilogram of ice. Over the last three months, police have arrested 1,444 suspects and registered 1,771 cases, recovering 2,142 kilograms of charas, 62 kilograms of ice, 266 kilograms of heroin, and 25 kilograms of opium.

Inspector General of Police Dr. Usman Anwar directed officers to intensify operations against major drug dealers and smugglers, particularly around educational institutions and hostels, to protect youth from narcotics. He emphasized strict punishments for those involved in the supply chain.

The incidents highlight Punjab’s aggressive stance against drug trafficking, combining on‑ground encounters with broader enforcement measures to dismantle networks across the province.