‘Sniffer Super Cops’ take charge in Punjab jails! Mann government’s historic step to uproot drug menace behind bars
Sniffer Super Cops take charge in Punjab jails. In a landmark decision to strengthen its ‘Drug-Free Punjab’ mission, the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government has approved the deployment of six specially trained sniffer dogs across six central jails in the state. The move, cleared in the cabinet meeting held on Monday, October 13, 2025, marks a decisive step in the government’s ongoing campaign ‘Yudh Nashe De Virudh’ (War Against Drugs).
These Labrador retrievers, referred to as ‘super sniffers,’ will be procured under specialized canine programmes of the Border Security Force (BSF) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). The dogs are trained to detect heroin, opium derivatives, locally brewed liquor, mobile phones, drones, and other contraband by smell — effectively cutting off the supply networks operating within prisons. Their induction will enhance security checks, including visitor and baggage screening, surprise inspections, and monitoring of inmates, thereby breaking the internal chain of drug circulation. Officials described the initiative as a milestone in the journey towards a drug-free Punjab.
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “These sniffer dogs will help detect and eliminate drug supply chains inside prisons. Each dog is specifically trained for this mission, serving as a force multiplier to ensure our zero-tolerance policy against drugs.” He added that recent searches revealed active smuggling networks in 15 of the state’s 24 prisons, with over 42 percent of inmates booked under the NDPS Act. Many of these cases involved the collusion of jail staff, with drugs, opiates, and mobile phones being smuggled in through drones, visitors, and disguised packages.
The new sniffer units will be deployed in major jails including Ludhiana, Amritsar, Patiala, Nabha, and Bathinda. A senior official said the initiative will also help inmates move towards rehabilitation and reform.
To speed up and maintain transparency in procurement, a special exemption was granted under Section 63(1) of the Punjab Transparency in Public Procurement Act, 2019. While the base cost of each dog is Rs 2.5 lakh, the total cost — including advanced training and equipment — amounts to Rs 15 lakh per dog, making the total project a Rs 90-lakh investment. The dogs will undergo additional training at the Punjab Police Academy in Phillaur, which already runs a successful canine programme.
This is not Punjab’s first success with detection dogs. Earlier, the Excise Department’s two sniffer dogs uncovered several cases of illicit liquor production, and the Jail Department’s existing canine units have helped prevent mobile phone smuggling. The new team will boost these efforts further. Under the ‘Yudh Nashe De Virudh’ campaign, 25 jail officials have already been suspended for complicity in drug-related cases. Last year, Punjab Police seized over 1,100 kilograms of heroin (1,129 kg in 2024) and recorded a 25 percent drop in NDPS cases, bringing the number down to 9,025.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said, “The war against drugs is not just the responsibility of the police — it’s a collective movement of society. When prisons reform, Punjab reforms. Our mission is to make every youth free from drugs so they can chase their dreams.”
The initiative has drawn widespread praise on social media. One user commented, “Sniffer dogs are the new roar of prison security! The Mann government has proved that good governance makes anything possible.” Many have hailed the move as a ‘security game-changer’ in Punjab’s anti-drug campaign.