Chandigarh: In an unprecedented action, the Punjab police late Monday night demolished the illegally built properties of two drug smugglers in Ludhiana district.

Stating that the police had identified as many as 78 drug peddlers in Ludhiana commissionerate, police said the illegal properties belonging to Sonu in Talwandi town and Rahul Hans in Bhai Himmat Singh Nagar, were razed by the Ludhiana Commissionerate police teams.

Sonu and his family members are involved in six cases of drug trafficking and Rahul was arrested in 2024 after recovery of more than 41,000 narcotic tablets and Rs 2.15 lakh drug money.

Ludhiana police commissioner Kuldeep Singh Chahal said in a statement that both drug peddlers have previous cases related to drug smuggling, and these properties were constructed using money obtained from drug sales.

He held that the police have so far identified a total of 78 such peddlers residing in areas falling under police commissionerate Ludhiana, and that all their properties which are either illegal or have been built using drug money will be demolished in the coming days.

He also held that Ludhiana commissionerate police have written to the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation seeking further details. The vehicles purchased using the same money will also be seized by the police.

Meanwhile, the police also said that besides the crackdown on drug networks, similar action would also be conducted against other criminals with illegal properties linked to illegal activities.