Drug smuggling racket busted, 1 nabbed with over 7 kg heroin

In a major breakthrough against cross-border narco-terror syndicates, the Amritsar Police Commissionerate on Wednesday claimed to have busted a drug smuggling racket, allegedly being operated by Moga-based drug peddler Jagpreet Singh, alias Jagga.

Police teams arrested his key aide, identified as Yasin Mohammed (22), a native of Atwa village in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, who was currently residing at Lalru village in Mohali. The police also recovered 7.1 kg heroin from his possession.

The police said Yasin has a criminal background with multiple cases registered against him under the Arms Act, NDPS Act and for theft and snatching.

Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said preliminary investigations revealed that Jagpreet Singh was in touch with Pakistan-based smugglers and was running the drug syndicate with the help of Yasin.

Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said acting on reliable inputs, police teams intercepted Yasin at Wadali in Chheharta while he was returning after retrieving a heroin consignment. The drugs had reportedly been dropped via a drone from across the border in the Ajnala sector on the instructions of Jagga.

“The probe further revealed that after retrieving the consignment, Yasin used to deliver it to Jagpreet, who then circulated the drugs to his links in the Malwa region of Punjab. Both accused were previously lodged together in Ludhiana jail where they came in contact with each other,” said Bhullar.

The police said more arrests and recoveries are likely in the coming days as investigations continue.

A case under Sections 21-C and 25 of the NDPS Act has been registered at the Chheharta police station here.