Three held with 1-kg heroin

Tribune News Service

|Ludhiana, August 17

A woman, among three peddlers, was arrested by the Special Task Force with 1-kg heroin. The value of the recovered narcotics is in several crores in the international market.

The accused have been identified as Amandeep, alias Amna (28), a resident of Kutbewal village; Ranjit Singh, alias Sonu (28), a resident of Talwandi Kalan; and Harchand Lal, alias Chand (40), a resident of Talwandi Kalan.

STF in-charge Harbans Singh said acting on a tip-off, the police party had laid a naka at Fatehpur village. A car was signalled to stop for checking. During search, narcotics were recovered. The police have also recovered Rs32,000 from them, which they “earned” by selling drugs.

During preliminary questioning, key peddler Ranjit told the police that he started the drug trade due to unemployment and now, he had been in the notorious profession for the last five years. Another peddler Harchand said he runs a sand business, but was in the notorious trade for the last four years.

Amandeep during questioning revealed that she was in the trade for the past six months only.

The accused told the police that they used to bring the consignment of narcotics from some peddler in Ahlowal village at a wholesale rate and sell the same to their clients in retail in Ludhiana at a lucrative price.

STF in-charge Harbans said in further probe, more aides could be arrested and more recovery of narcotics could be made.