Drug smuggling network busted, 5 nabbed

In a major success against cross-border drug smuggling, the Amritsar Police Commissionerate has busted a narco network with the arrest of five men and recovery of 3.03 kg heroin and two motorcycles from their possession.

According to the police, the racket was being run from jail by Sachinpreet Singh, who directed operations through his brother Navpreet Singh.

The first breakthrough came on September 26, when a patrol team intercepted two motorcycles near the Sada Pind bypass. During the operation, the police arrested Lovepreet Singh, alias Love (19), and Navpreet Singh, alias Nav (18), with 100 grams of heroin and Rs 500 drug money from a black Splendor motorcycle.

During the raid, Gurlal Singh (18) and Manpreet Singh, alias Karan (21), were nabbed with 120 grams of heroin and Rs 500 drug money from a red Bajaj motorcycle.

Further interrogation led the police to a massive recovery of 2.812 kg heroin from Navpreet and Manpreet. The probe also resulted in the arrest of Sachinpreet Singh from Goindwal jail on a production warrant.

Investigations revealed that the accused have a criminal past. Manpreet Singh is already facing murder and NDPS cases in Tarn Taran, while Sachinpreet has multiple cases registered under the NDPS and Arms Acts against him. Lovepreet Singh too has a theft case registered against him in Amritsar.

Officials said the arrests mark a “significant breakthrough” in the ongoing crackdown against cross-border drug cartels operating in Amritsar-Tarn Taran areas. Further probe was on to establish their backward and forward linkages to smash the entire network.