Two drug cartels busted, 3 held with over 11 kg heroin

Punjab Police personnel have busted two drug cartels being operated across the Indo-Pakistan border by arresting three smugglers and seizing over 11 kilograms of heroin along with drug money from them in separate intelligence-led operations.

In the first case, the Amritsar Rural Police arrested Shankar Singh, a resident of Guru Ki Wadali, with 6.286 kg of heroin and Rs 4 lakh suspected drug proceeds. Preliminary investigations revealed that Shankar Singh was in direct contact with foreign-based smugglers, highlighting the international dimension of the network. His interrogation led to the arrest of his accomplice Sachin of Ranjitpura area here.

Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said Shankar’s further interrogation would help trace his backward and forward linkages. “The recovery is significant as it indicates how deeply foreign handlers are embedded in Punjab’s narcotics supply chain,” he said. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered at the Lopoke police station.

In another case, the Counter Intelligence (CI) wing of the Amritsar police unearthed another module being run by Harpal Singh, a native of Kohala village in Amritsar, who has been living in the US for two years.

The police intercepted his local operative Pawandeep Singh near Beharwal village and recovered 5.032 kg of heroin from his possession.

According to the DGP, Pawandeep confessed to working under Harpal Singh, who is believed to be in direct touch with Pakistan-based smugglers, and has been using drones to push consignments of narcotics and weapons across the border.

“While Harpal initially had a clean record after migrating to the US, evidence suggests he later became involved in narcotics trafficking, exploiting Punjab’s vulnerable border areas,” Yadav disclosed.

A case under Sections 21 and 29 of the NDPS Act has been registered at the State Special Operation Cell, Amritsar. Investigations are underway to establish the full chain of operatives and financiers behind the racket.

The DGP reiterated that Punjab Police are determined to dismantle smuggling syndicates and prevent foreign handlers from de-stabilising the state.