Haryana’s police, especially in the border districts of Sirsa, Dabwali and Fatehabad, have launched an intensified, data-driven campaign that is significantly reducing both drug availability and overdose deaths in the region.

For years, these areas—close to Punjab and Rajasthan—were known as narcotics hotspots, with easy access to heroin, poppy husk and pharma opioids, and many villages witnessing multiple overdose deaths.

What Has Changed Now?

The turnaround happening in late 2025 is not due to one big raid, but because of consistent, systematic enforcement + social outreach.

Key Developments

1. Major Increase in Identifying Addicted Individuals & Sending Them to Treatment

• 1,138 drug-dependent persons were identified and sent for treatment during the latest 45-day campaign.

• This is up from 763 in the earlier 45 days.
  → 375 more people were moved from overdose risk to professional detox and counselling.

2. “Depth Policing”: More Cases, More Arrests, More Seizures

Police have shifted to data-backed, continuous enforcement instead of occasional action.

In the 45-day period (16 Oct–30 Nov 2025):

• 153 NDPS cases registered (vs 105 earlier).

• 342 arrests (vs 257 earlier).

3. Crackdown on Mid-level ‘Link Peddlers’

Earlier, most arrests were end-users. Now the focus is on the real supply chain.

• 160 link peddlers identified,

• 86 arrested (vs 68 earlier).

This shows police are targeting village-level distribution networks, making it harder for drugs to reach the streets.

Why This Matters

The police say the combined approach of:

✔ Strong enforcement
✔ Network-based investigation
✔ Community outreach
✔ Guiding addicts toward treatment

…is now causing a visible decline in street drug availability and fewer overdose deaths.

Villages that once reported frequent deaths (such as Abubshahar and Ganga) are now seeing noticeable improvement.

In Short

Haryana’s border districts—once overwhelmed by heroin and opioid addiction—are finally experiencing a positive shift thanks to:

• Sustained policing

• Mapping and dismantling drug networks

• Treating addiction as a health issue

This combined model is showing promising results and could become a replicable strategy for other high-burden regions.