Amritsar: International drug syndicate busted, 60 kg heroin seized

The Amritsar police in collaboration with the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Rajasthan Police busted an international drug syndicate and recovered over 60 kg of heroin smuggled from across the border with Pakistan.

Those held included Prashotam Singh, alias Kala (50), a resident of Simbal camp in Jammu who was allegedly involved in a bomb blast that took place in 2000 in Delhi's Paharganj.

According to the police, the accused were involved in hawala transactions and cross-border smuggling.

The drug was seized near the International Border in Rajasthan's Barmer, said Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav.

He said the racket was operated by Pakistan-based smuggler Tanveer Shah in association with Canada-based Indian handler Joban Kaler, who originally hailed from Amritsar.

Apart from Prashotam Singh, the police arrested Gagandeep Singh, alias Gagan (23), of Rampura village here; Jashanpreet Singh, alias Jashan (20), of Khurmania village here; Gursahib Singh (25) of Boparai Baj village; Rajeev Panjgotra, alias Rajveer (29), of Kalyana village in Jammu and Kashmir; Somnath (62) of Fatehpur Brahmana in Jammu and Kashmir; Kulwinder Singh (24) of Mullechak village in Amritsar and Rajinder Kaur (42) of Tanda village in Jammu and Kashmir, besides one hawala-operator.

Somnath was facing two cases related to the seizure of 4 kg and 9 kg heroin from Delhi (in 2003) and Amritsar (in 2014), respectively.

As per preliminary probe, Tanveer Shan, along with Joban Kaler, was operating the network with the help of local kingpin Gursahib Singh, who was lodged in the Goindwal Sahib jail in Tarn Taran. Gursahib was operating the network from inside jail through mobile phone which was recovered. He was brought on production warrant for further investigation, the DGP said.

Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said Gursahib was arrested by the police last month with 1 kg heroin.

Through his nephew, Jashanpreet Singh, and associate Gagandeep Singh, Gursahib was operating the cartel. They were arrested with 102 gm of contraband.

"Their interrogation led the police bust the entire racket and seize over 60 kg of heroin from Barmer in Rajasthan," said Bhullar, while adding that the probe led to exposing of a hawala racket routing drug money through Dubai.