Inter-state opium smuggling gang busted

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Fatehgarh Sahib, February 23

The police have busted an inter-state opium smuggling gang with the arrest of three persons, including a furniture shop owner of the Mohali furniture market, and recovered 17.5 kg of opium, Rs 15 lakh, and an SUV.

Addressing mediapersons, SSP Dr Ravjot Grewal said Inspector Amarbir Singh had set up a naka at Mandi Gobindgarh and intercepted an SUV. During the search of the vehicle, the police recovered 10.5 kg of opium and Rs 5 lakh. The police took the occupants — Kartar Singh alias Kala and Sanjay Kumar, residents of Mandi Gobindgarh — of the SUV into custody. Police officials said that during questioning, Kartar Singh told the police that they used to bring opium from Jharkhand and supplied it to Pradeep Kumar from Mohali and Anil Kumar from Chandigarh, among other people.

The police said a police team led by SP (investigation) Rakesh Yadav raided the furniture shop of Pardeep Kumar and recovered 7 kg of opium and Rs 10 lakh, adding that the other suspect, Anil Kumar, is absconding.

SSP Grewal said Kartar has been absconding in five cases under the NDPS Act, and Pardeep Kumar is facing two cases under the NDPS Act at Mohali, adding that he was out on bail. She said further investigation into the case is underway.

She added that earlier, the police busted several peddlers who used to bring drugs to the district from the Northeast, adding that the police would continue to work hard towards making Fatehgarh Sahib a drug free district.