Tarn Taran pharmacist arrested with 85-kg heroin

The Punjab Police’s Tarn Taran unit claims to have recovered 85 kg of heroin from a pharmacist working at a private hospital after busting a Pakistan intelligence agency ISI-controlled narco-smuggling module.

The seized contraband was valued at around Rs 500 crore, said an official. The pharmacist has been identified as Amanjot Singh, alias Jota Sandhu (30), a resident of Bhittewad village in Amritsar. According to the police, Amanjot’s residence was a major storage point for the heroin that was being smuggled from Pakistan through drones.

The police said the racket was being operated by a UK-based handler, Lalli, who along with his Pakistan-based accomplice Shah was pushing narcotics into India at the behest of the ISI.

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Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said Amanjot would allegedly secure the supply of drugs from different points on the Pakistan border and get it delivered across Punjab on Lalli’s directions.

Tarn Taran SSP Abhimanyu Rana said Amanjot was initially arrested with 5 kg of heroin from the Chabhal area following a tip-off. “The 5-kg heroin was hidden in Amanjot’s scooter. Upon interrogation, he confessed to having concealed 40 kg of heroin in the Sarai Amanat Khan area. Further investigations led to the recovery of another heroin consignment of 40 kg, which was hidden in a washing machine at his house in Bhittewad village,” said the SSP.

Rana said the police were ascertaining Amanjot’s links in the drug supply chain and more recoveries were likely in the near future. “Efforts are underway to uncover the entire network of suppliers, dealers, buyers and hawala handlers to ascertain the total quantity of drugs received by the accused so far,” the SSP said, adding Amanjot was a big fish in the drug trade.

Investigations revealed that Amanjot fell into drug abuse and later joined the illicit heroin trade for easy money. It was the first time he had been arrested, said the police.