Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, February 15

In a crackdown on drug trafficking, the Jalandhar Commissionerate Police have arrested five persons and seized 303 gram of heroin in an operation aimed at curbing the drug menace in the city.

The arrests were made following a well-coordinated effort by a special police cell under the leadership of Commissioner of Police Swapan Sharma.

During a routine patrol recently near Bhagwan Valmiki Gate, officers noticed two men and a woman acting suspiciously. When confronted, one of them attempted to flee, discarding a black polythene bag in the process. The police swiftly apprehended the trio and recovered 30 gram of heroin in the bag.

Following this, an FIR was registered under Sections 21, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act at Police Station Division Number 2, Jalandhar.

Further interrogation revealed a larger drug network. One of the arrested persons Radhika, alias Pinky, disclosed the location of additional contraband. Acting on her information, the police recovered another 273 gram of heroin hidden near Bidhipur Phatak, leading to the inclusion of Section 29 of the NDPS Act in the FIR. Additional investigations led to the arrest of two more suspects and further drug seizures.

The arrested persons have been identified as Tanish Kumar, alias Tanu (Jalandhar), Bharat, alias Shanu (Amritsar), Radhika, alias Pinky (Jalandhar), Dinesh Kumar (Jalandhar) and Deepak, alias Krela (Jalandhar). In addition to the heroin, the police recovered a small electronic weighing machine and 10 plastic polythene bags used for packaging drugs.

Police officials said all accused had been presented before the court and remanded to police custody for further investigation. Radhika had previously been booked in another drug-related case on July 4, 2023.

Commissioner Sharma reaffirmed the police department’s commitment to eliminating drug trafficking in Jalandhar, stating that efforts were ongoing to dismantle the broader network. "We have urged residents to report any suspicious activities to help create a drug-free society", he added.