Amritsar police bust cross-border module, seize 5 kg contraband

The Commissionerate of Police, Amritsar, on Wednesday claimed to have busted an organised drug cartel operating through Pakistan-based and other foreign handlers, who used WhatsApp communication and drone-based deliveries for smuggling.

Officials said that during multiple intelligence-driven operations held during the past five days, the police have arrested three key operatives and uncovered a wider network linked to international smugglers. Three FIRs have been registered at police stations of Gate Hakima and Chheharta in this connection.

Sharing details, Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said that in the first case, the police arrested Balwinder Singh with 35 gm of methamphetamine, popularly known as ICE. After his disclosures the police recovered an additional over 2 kg of ICE from a concealed location. Apart from this, it confiscated a car, a mobile phone and Rs 2,500 drug money from him.

Further interrogation revealed that he was working directly with a Pakistan-based trafficker, who used to share drone-drop locations through WhatsApp.

Balwinder, a resident of Daoke village in Amritsar rural, reportedly owns agricultural land near the international border with Pakistan and facilitated drone-based deliveries using coded messages.

In another operation, the police arrested Navtej Singh with 40 gm ICE. As per the initial probe, he was in contact with a handler in Doha, Qatar, during his stay abroad. After returning to India, Navtej continued working as a courier, retrieving narcotics from designated locations on instructions sent through WhatsApp.

His disclosures led to the recovery of 1.966 kg ICE, taking the total seizure from him to over 2 kg. The police also seized an Activa scooter used for transporting drugs. Navtej, hailing from Mahawa village in Amritsar rural, has two previous NDPS cases, including a 1.04 kg heroin case registered in 2021.

Similarly, in the third operation, the police apprehended Mahabir Singh with over 1 kg heroin. Investigations indicate that he received heroin consignments through drones launched from Pakistan. A motorcycle was also confiscated from his possession.

Mahabir, a resident of Kaaliyan Sektaran village in Tarn Taran, worked as a porter and had no previous criminal history.