STF recovers 5-kg heroin; one arrested

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 18

The Special Task Force claimed to have recovered 5-kg heroin from a 45-year-old man at a special check point installed at Panjeta village on the Kohara Machhiwara Road in Ludhiana.

The accused has been identified as Ashok Kumar of Bargal village, Akhnoor, in Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing a press conference in Ludhiana today, Snehdeep Sharma, AIG STF Ludhiana-Ferozepur Range, said the accused, during interrogation, revealed that the recovered heroin was supplied to him by smugglers based in Pakistan via Jammu border. The accused had to supply the heroin to the customers here, he said.

STF Ludhiana unit in-charge Harbans Singh said when the police team indicated the accused to stop his car, he speeded up the vehicle. However, he was caught by the police. Singh said: “When we inspected, we found a rice bag in his car. The heroin was kept under the rice in the bag.”

“Ashok is involved in smuggling of heroin for over 16 years. The accused told us that a case of carrying 10-kg was registered against him at a police station in Jammu and Kashmir in 2001 and was also sent to jail. But after coming out, he again started smuggling heroin,” Singh said.

A case under Sections 22-61-85 of the NDPS Act was registered against the accused at police station, STF Phase 4 Mohali. The accused was presented before the court that sent him on police remand, he said.

He said the investigation was underway and they were trying to know about his other companions allegedly involved in the smuggling of heroin.