Notorious drug smuggler arrested with 90-kg poppy husk

In a major breakthrough against drug trafficking, the CIA Staff, Jalandhar Rural police, have arrested a notorious smuggler and seized 90 kg of poppy husk from him. The accused was apprehended along with a car during a special operation in the Kartarpur area.

The accused has been identified as Lovepreet Singh, alias Love, son of Gurcharan Singh, resident of Sech village, Sultanpur Lodhi police station, in Kapurthala district.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Jalandhar Rural, Harkamalpreet Singh Khakh said following reliable Intelligence received by Inspector Pushap Bali, incharge, CIA Staff, Jalandhar Rural, a special operation was conducted on Thursday. The operation was supervised by SP, Investigation, Jasrup Kaur Bath (IPS) and DSP, Investigation, Sarvanjit Singh.

The police team intercepted the accused near Gurdwara Bunga Sahib, Dayalpur, where he was found in possession of multiple plastic bags containing poppy husk.

The SSP revealed that the seized contraband included four bags of 20 kg each and one bag of 10 kg, totaling 90 kg of poppy husk.

A white SUV without a registration plate was also seized from the accused's possession.

The accused has a criminal history with cases registered at various police stations. These include a case under the NDPS Act at the Sadar police station, Kapurthala, in August 2019, cases of robbery at the police station in Jagraon in December 2019 and March 2020, and recent drug-related cases at the police station in Kharar and ANTF, Sector-79, in 2024.

A fresh case has been registered under Sections 15C, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act at the Kartarpur police station on Thursday.

The accused, who was released on bail from the Nabha jail in November 2024, has been remanded in police custody for further investigation.

"We are investigating the source of the contraband and its intended recipients. The accused's property details are being scrutinised for appropriate legal action," added SSP Khakh.