Police bust cross-border drug cartel, 5 arrested

The city police have arrested a jeweller among five persons on charges of cross-border drug trafficking through drone. The cartel was being operated by a France-based Punjabi NRI along with their Pakistan-based associates.

The police confiscated 2.25 kg of heroin, Rs 1.05 lakh drug money, a modern Glock pistol and a car from their possession.

Those arrested were identified as Kiratpal Singh, alias Kirat (18), of Vila Teja village in Gurdaspur, Karanbir Singh (21) of Baupur Afghana, Dorangla (Gurdaspur), Sukhdeep Singh, alias Sukh (18), and and Pankaj Verma, alias Bablu (43), of Fatehgarh Churian (Gurdaspur), and Pyara Singh (40) of Ballarwal village in Ajnala here.

Karanbir was the kingpin of the racket. He had earlier tried to flee to the US through the ‘dunki’ route, but was deported back to India. After this, he entered into an illegal drug trade.

Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said teams of the Islamabad police under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Police Harpreet Singh Mandr, and Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Vishaljit Singh nabbed the suspects from a checkpoint near Kabir Park area.

He said preliminary investigations carried out in the case revealed that France-based Cheema and Sikander Singh were operating the racket from there. They had links with Pakistan-based drug and weapons smugglers who introduced Karandeep to them.

Sikander originally hailed from Gurdaspur area. He came in contact with Karandeep through social media. Karandeep had earlier tried to sneak into the US using the ‘dunki’ route. However, he was deported back to India. After his return, he allegedly developed his links with the cross-border drug peddler and started smuggling of narcotics and weapons from Pakistan.

“The heroin consignments were allegedly sent via drones from Pakistan to border areas between Fatehgarh Churian and Gurdaspur. After getting the delivery of the contraband, they used to distribute it in Amritsar and other border areas,” said Bhullar while adding that investigations are on to find out their backward and forward links.

He said Pankaj Verma, who works as a jeweller, was earlier arrested by the Pinjore police on charges of dacoity. Kiratpal Singh also had a case registered against him under the Arms Act at Batala.

A case under Sections 21(C) and 29 of the NDPS Act, 1985, has been registered at the Islamabad police station here.