Drug traffickers rope in women couriers

Raj Sadosh

Abohar, September 19

Women were made to run illicit liquor business in the past, but interrogation of a dozen peddlers arrested during the past four days has indicated that drug traffickers are nowadays using them as couriers/peddlers. This has happened as most of the peddlers are facing financial difficulties due to the tough situation created by Covid-19.

A police team today seized 15-kg poppy husk from Bholi, Raj Rani (both from Gidderbaha) and Mukhtiar Kaur (from the Lambi area) in Muktsar district. As many as 1,570 intoxicating pills and 4-kg poppy husk were seized from Kirandeep Kaur of Bajakhana, Surjit Singh of Talwandi Sabo and Gagandeep Singh of Muktsar. The recoveries were made from them when they were on their way back from Rajasthan. As many as 26,400 sedative tablets were seized by intercepting Harinder Wadhwa, alias Happy, of Fazilka and Jaskaran Singh of Dabwala Kalan. Their interrogation reportedly indicated that the duo had taken a marriage palace on contract, but were facing losses due to Covid-19. They were allegedly selling medicinal drugs from Sriganganagar.

In another incident, 300 intoxicating pills were recovered from Pawan Kumar of Mehrana village. One kg of opium was seized from Gurmail Singh Kharlian, Lakhwinder Singh Lakha and Gurmeet Singh Meeta of Lambi, Muktsar.

In Sriganganagar, two couples were arrested under the NDPS Act last month while trying to sell heroin. They claimed they had arranged drugs from a Ferozepur-based trafficker and were able to sell these as the police did not suspect them due to the presence of women.