Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF): Dedicated force to deal with Drugs smugglers and criminals

Last updated: 12 Jan 2025

New ANTF has its dedicated resources

-- Own Specially Trained Officers, earlier officers were loaned from different units of Punjab Police
-- Increased Strength[1]: 861 in Jan 2024 from earlier 400 only
-- Advanced technology, software & specialised tools with special units like SITU & SSU

Features[2]

  • Rechristened the earlier Special Task Force (STF) — the apex state-level drug law enforcement unit — as Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF)
  • Dedicated Anti Drugs Force with its own officers, earlier officers were loaned from different units
  • Earlier 400 officials, now is increased to 861
  • More cops having training in technical investigations
  • The office has been set up at Mohali Sector 79
  • 14 new Mahindra Scorpio vehicles will be provided
  • CM Bhagwant Mann inaugurated the ANTF’s state-of-the-art headquarters in Mohali on 28th Aug 2024

1. Punjab Artificial Intelligence System (PAIS 2.0)[3]

Database of 3,32,976 criminals including 1+ lakh drug offenders as of Jan 2025
-- Include features like drug seizures data, and criminal link tracking
-- voice analysis

  • Advance tool designed to help Punjab Police in tracking and analyzing crimes
  • 18 million searches conducted and 30,804 active users as of Jan 2025
  • Even Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Zonal office in Punjab given access

2. Special Tech Analysis Lab (SITU)[4]

This lab is equipped to leverage advanced technology, software & specialised tools[2:1]
-- ₹11 crore worth softwares were procured for this lab

  • 43 technically skilled police personnel have been deployed to leverage these advanced resources
  • Officially named STF Intelligence & Technical Unit (SITU)
  • Inaugurated on 16 July 2024
  • Equipped with advanced software systems tailored for the meticulous analysis of drug-related data[2:2]
    -- Communication & social media engagements
    -- Financial transactions and
    -- Detailed profiling of drug traffickers
  • This unit will focus on Intelligence building while tracking all suspect drug crinimals

3. Whatsapp Helpline for reporting

4. Support Services Unit (SSU)[5]

  • Focused on analysing drug-related data, communications, financial transactions, and trafficking profiles
  • Will add precision and effectiveness to force's capacity to combat the drug menace

REFERENCES:

  1. https://yespunjab.com/cm-mann-seeks-amit-shahs-intervention-for-setting-up-special-ndps-courts-to-check-drug-menace/ ↩︎

  2. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/punjab-anti-drug-task-force-gets-more-teeth-new-name-101724872458388.html ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. https://yespunjab.com/cm-mann-seeks-amit-shahs-intervention-for-setting-up-special-ndps-courts-to-check-drug-menace/ ↩︎

  4. https://www.amarujala.com/chandigarh/new-stf-of-police-will-end-drugs-network-in-punjab-chandigarh-news-c-16-1-pkl1079-469751-2024-07-17 ↩︎

  5. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/antf-gets-support-service-unit-to-analyse-drug-related-data-101731614917359.html ↩︎