Notorious smuggler’s wife also active in crime, booked

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 25

The questioning of notorious smuggler Akash Chopra, alias Honey, of Gurmel Park, who was recently nabbed by the Special Task Force (STF), Ludhiana, with 2.05-kg heroin worth Rs 10 crore, along with eight cars, six two-wheelers and Rs 8 lakh drug money, revealed that his wife Alisha Chopra was also active in drug smuggling. Accordingly, the STF also booked her in a drug case.

On the disclosure of Akash, an illegal pistol and six live cartridges were also recovered from him. He hid the weapon and the cartridges in a pot at his friend’s house in Gurmel Park.

“Akash confessed that his wife was also actively supporting him in heroin smuggling. She even used to deliver small consignments to his clients. She was in fact fully aware of the depth of this heroin smuggling trade and was directly receiving orders from clients,” said Inspector Harbans Singh, STF, Ludhiana.

The STF has also identified four prime properties of the smuggler. The value of these properties is said to be over Rs 1 crore. The process to seize the properties has also been started.

“Akash and his wife Alisha have a joint bank account. She had recently withdrawn Rs 10 lakh from the bank account. The duo has some other accounts as well in which lakhs of drug money is lying and the process to freeze the accounts has already been started,” said Harbans.

Smuggler had young clients, say Cops

Smuggler Akash had several young clients, who used to buy heroin from him regularly. “We are also tracing some boys who used to buy heroin from him. Some of the buyers are suspected to be college-going students,” said STF Inspector Harbans Singh.

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