Amritsar police bust international drug racket; 60 kg heroin seized, 9 arrested

In a significant operation in 2025, Amritsar Police Commissionerate, in collaboration with the Border Security Force (BSF) and Rajasthan Police, has seized over 60 kg heroin, dismantling an international drug syndicate involved in trans-border drug trafficking. Nine individuals, including a woman, were arrested during the interstate operation conducted in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Jammu and Kashmir. The seizure occurred near the international border with Pakistan in Barmer, Rajasthan.

The arrested individuals include Gursahib Singh, Jashanpreet Singh, Kulwinder Singh, Parshotam Singh, Gagandeep Singh, and Rajinder Kaur, all residents of Amritsar district. According to Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav, the racket was operated by Canada-based Indian smuggler Joban Kaler and notorious Pakistani drug smuggler Tanveer Shah.

“In a massive crackdown, Amritsar Police Commissionerate, with the support of the BSF and Rajasthan Police, dismantled a major international drug cartel operated by Pakistan-based smuggler Tanveer Shah and Canada-based handler Joban Kaler, recovering a huge consignment of 60.302 kg heroin near the International Border in Barmer, Rajasthan,” said DGP Yadav on X.

Yadav added that among those arrested were smugglers and hawala racketeers, and further investigation is underway to expose the entire network’s backward and forward links. More arrests are likely during the course of the investigation.