CHANDIGARH: In two separate operations, the Punjab Police have recovered 10 kilograms of heroin smuggled from Pakistan and arrested six individuals involved in the illegal trade.
In the first operation, the Counter Intelligence (CI) unit in Amritsar apprehended three drug smugglers, recovering 5 kilograms of heroin and Rs 4.45 lakh in drug money.
Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab, Gaurav Yadav, stated on Thursday that the arrested individuals have been identified as Husanpreet Singh, a resident of Prime City, Chheharta, Amritsar; Karandeep Singh alias Manna; and Maninder Singh, both residents of Attari Mandi in Amritsar.
The police also seized their vehicles—a white Honda Activa (registration PB02DK8780) and a black Hero Deluxe HF (registration PB02EP5854).
DGP Yadav revealed that the CI team received a tip-off about Karandeep Singh and Maninder Singh smuggling heroin, allegedly retrieved from consignments dropped by drones from Pakistan. The duo was reportedly planning to deliver the consignment to Husanpreet Singh.
“Acting on the tip-off, the police set up a special naka near the Punjabi Bagh Resort on the Amritsar-Attari Road. All three suspects were arrested, and the heroin and drug money were seized,” Yadav said. Further investigations are underway to establish links with Pakistan-based smugglers.
A case has been registered under Sections 21, 25, and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at the State Special Operations Cell (SSOC) police station in Amritsar.
Due to the recovery of drug money, Section 27-A of the NDPS Act has also been added, enhancing the severity of the offence.
In the second operation, the Amritsar Police Commissionerate dismantled a trans-border narcotics smuggling module, arresting three suspects and recovering another 5 kilograms of heroin.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Harpartap Singh alias Happy (29), a resident of Rorewali village, Amritsar; Karandeep Singh (21), a resident of Nagal Sohal village, Amritsar; and Jagpreet Singh (19), a resident of Dharamkot Randhawa village, Batala. Their motorcycle was also impounded.
Sharing details of the operation, Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said: “Reliable inputs suggested that the suspects had received a drug consignment from an unknown person in the Fatehgarh Churian area and were travelling towards Verka bypass.”
Acting swiftly, a team from the CIA Staff-1, led by Inspector Amolakdeep Singh under the supervision of DCP Investigation Alam Vijay Singh, ADCP City Investigation Navjot Singh, and ACP Detective Harminder Singh, intercepted and arrested the suspects near the Escort Hospital in Amritsar.
Efforts are ongoing to determine the total quantity of narcotics procured by the arrested individuals and to unearth the broader network of suppliers, dealers, and buyers. A case has been registered under Sections 21-C, 23, and 29 of the NDPS Act at the Sadar police station, Amritsar.
Meanwhile, protests have erupted across the state, with demonstrators demanding a ban on midnight film premiere shows, citing concerns over the increasing prevalence of drug-related crimes.