Moga police arrest four for bid to courier opium to Canada

Nearly two months after an attempt was made to dispatch 450 grams of opium to Canada through a courier service, the Moga police on Sunday arrested four persons, including three women, for their alleged involvement in the case.

According to the police, the prime accused, Mandeep Kaur, had allegedly packed the opium in a sweets box for dispatch to her Canada-based husband Sartaj Singh on September 29. Her mother-in-law Gulshanjeet Kaur and two others, Kuldeep Kaur and Manjit Singh, have also been named in the case.

Moga City SHO Varun Singh said all four had a role in the case. The case was registered on September 29 on the complaint of Ravi Kumar, owner of the courier company through which the parcel was booked.

Though the police had reportedly identified the suspects soon after, the matter allegedly remained suppressed due to local political pressure.

Sources allege that the recent removal of former Moga mayor Baljit Singh Channi was also linked to it.

Channi, however, denied any involvement, claiming he was being targeted due to political rivalry.

“I have nothing to do with any smuggling or money exchange incident. I have been made a scapegoat to end my political career,” he said.

The police have declined to comment on the alleged political connection, saying that further investigation is underway. The police are collecting more information in this case, said Varun Singh SHO.