Punjab police busts cross border drug smuggling racket, recovers 10 kg heroin

Amritsar unit of State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) busted a cross-border drug smuggling racket and seized 10 kg heroin valued at Rs 50 crore. The accused has been identified as Shinder Singh, a resident of Jalandhar. He was carrying 1.5 lakh cash with him. He was initially caught with a consignment of 6 kgs while the remaining 4 kgs was recovered following further interrogation. Interestingly the accused had hid the consignment beneath the road, which was being constructed at his village in Jalandhar.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said, “SSOC Amritsar had received a tip off that accused Shinder and his accomplices had recently procured the big consignment of heroin pushed into the Indian territory this time through the riverine route in Ferozepur sector by Pakistan based smugglers. They were in Amritsar to deliver the consignment.”

“Preliminary investigations reveal that smugglers exploited a gap, emerged due to floods, in the fencing along the river of Indo-Pak border to smuggle the drug consignment. Investigations are being conducted to unearth the entire network of drug suppliers, dealers and their buyers. Police teams have also nominated his four accomplices, who are on the run and expected to have a big haul of heroin and are on manhunt to nab them and more recovery of drug is expected”, said SSOC AIG Sukhminder Singh Mann.

Combating cross border narco terrorism, the Border Security Force (BSF) has identified around 200 dropping zones across the Intentional Border in Punjab wherein Amritsar and Ferozepur sectors remain hotspots. Sources claim drones usually take off from near Lahore, Kasur and Sheikhpura in neighbouring Pakistan and drop drugs, arms and ammunition along the Indian side of Punjab border.

According to state records, around 1,000 kg of heroin, 56 hand grenades, 126 pistols and revolvers, 11 AK-47 and other rifles and 9.5 kg of RDX have been seized from drone-based deliveries till May 16 this year. And from April 1, 2022 till July 13, 2023, 16,554 cases have been registered under the NDPS Act and 22,349 smugglers have been arrested.