Eight arrested with over 9 kg heroin in three separate cases in Amritsar
The Counter Intelligence (CI) wing of the Amritsar police has busted a drug smuggling module with the arrest of four persons and the recovery of 5 kg heroin.
The accused were allegedly in direct contact with a Pakistan-based smuggler who was using drones to send heroin consignments across the International Border.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Sukhchain Singh, alias Mani, Navdeep Singh, Sukhpal Singh and Akashdeep Singh, all residents of village Daoke in Amritsar district.
The police have also seized two Splendor motorcycles (bearing registration numbers PB02EU7751 and PB02DY9343, respectively) used for transporting the contraband.
Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab, Gaurav Yadav said the operation was carried out based on specific intelligence inputs. Preliminary investigations revealed that the accused were directly linked to a Pakistan-based smuggler who used drones to drop heroin consignments near Daoke village, from where they were distributed further within the state.
According to the police, the CI wing, Amritsar, received credible information that Sukhchain Singh, alias Mani, was running a drug smuggling network with the help of his associates and had recently received a large heroin consignment from across the border. The accused were allegedly planning to deliver the consignment near Kala Ghanupur area in the city.
Acting swiftly, police teams laid a naka on the Amritsar-Attari bypass road and intercepted the suspects. A thorough search led to the recovery of 5 kg heroin from their possession.
The DGP said further investigations are underway to establish both forward and backward linkages of the smuggling network and to identify other individuals involved in the racket.
Meanwhile, the Amritsar Rural Police on Tuesday arrested four alleged drug smugglers and recovered 4.168 kg of heroin along with five mobile phones in two separate cases.
Those arrested were identified as Rohit, Vishal Singh and Gurditt Singh, all residents of Rorawala Kalan village in Attari, and Sahildeep Singh, a resident of Dande village.
In the first case, the Gharinda police received specific information that Rohit, Vishal Singh and Gurditt Singh were allegedly involved in illegal drug peddling.
Acting swiftly, a police team conducted a raid near a drain on the Rorawala-Attari road and arrested the three accused. During the search, 2.010 kg of heroin and two mobile phones were recovered from their possession.
A case under various provisions of the NDPS Act was registered at the Gharinda police station and further investigation is underway.
Similarly, in another case, the Gharinda police, in coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF), conducted a joint operation in the area of joint check post close to Attari. During the operation, Sahildeep Singh was arrested with 2.158 kg of heroin and three mobile phones.
A separate case under the NDPS Act was registered at the Gharinda police station in this regard.
The police said that investigations are underway to trace both forward and backward links of the accused. They added that anyone else found involved in the drug network will be dealt with strictly as per the law.
