In a major crackdown on trans-border smuggling amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a drug-free state as per directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), Border Range, in a joint operation with the Border Security Force (BSF), has recovered a haul of 19.980 Kg heroin and apprehended four accused including the key operative managing the supply chain.
Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav said here on Tuesday that those arrested have been identified as Sahibjit Singh alias Sahib and Rajwinder Singh alias Golu, both residents of Old Naraingarh in Amritsar; Ashu Sharma alias Ashu, a resident of Chheharta in Amritsar and a 17-years-old Juvenile, a resident of Amritsar.
Apart from recovering heroin haul, police teams have impounded their Maruti Brezza car and two motorcycles.
DGP Gaurav Yadav said preliminary investigation has revealed that the accused is linked to Pakistan-based handlers and was coordinating the delivery and distribution of drug consignments across the region. Further investigation is underway to identify cross-border handlers, trace supply routes, and dismantle the entire network, he said.
Sharing operational details, SP ANTF Border Range Gurpreet Singh said reliable information was received about the accused who had gone towards the border area to retrieve a heroin consignment smuggled via drone. Acting swiftly on the input, a joint team of ANTF and BSF laid a check-point at a strategic location and successfully intercepted all four accused along with a Brezza car used in the crime, he said.
Based on the disclosures of the arrested accused persons, a joint search operation was conducted at BOP Ghogga, falling under the jurisdiction of Police Station Bhindi Saidan, District Amritsar. During the search, 19.980 kg of heroin packed in five packets was recovered from the agricultural fields near village Bhindi Aulakh, he said.
In the case, an FIR has been registered under Sections 21, 25 and 29 of the NDPS Act at Police Station ANTF, SAS Nagar.