Chandigarh/Amritsar: In a major blow to narcotics trafficking, Punjab Counter Intelligence has dismantled an alleged cross-border drug smuggling network with the arrest of three suspects and the seizure of 25 kg of heroin in Amritsar, police said on Tuesday.
According to Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav, the accused were allegedly acting on the directions of a cross-border smuggler and were tasked with collecting heroin consignments from different locations for further distribution across Punjab.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Bhupinder Singh of Hoshiarpur, Ravi Kumar of Hoshiarpur, and Vishal Singh of Amritsar. Police also impounded a Hyundai Verna allegedly used for transporting narcotics.
Acting on specific intelligence, Counter Intelligence teams intercepted the trio near Dana Mandi in village Gill on Mehta Road, Amritsar. During the operation, officers recovered 8 kg of heroin from Vishal Singh and 17 kg from Bhupinder Singh and Ravi Kumar.
The latest operation comes a day after Counter Intelligence Amritsar arrested three other suspects linked to two separate narcotics networks and recovered 13 kg of heroin, underscoring an intensified crackdown against drug trafficking in the state.
Police said investigations are continuing to establish both forward and backward linkages of the network, identify other associates, and trace the entire supply chain.
A case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC), Amritsar.
