Chandigarh/Amritsar: In a major crackdown on cross-border narcotics trafficking, the Punjab Police has busted a Dubai-linked international drug cartel and arrested two alleged operatives with 10 kg of ICE (Methamphetamine) and 4 kg of heroin in Amritsar.
Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said the accused — Mohit alias Bachi (19) from Jalandhar and Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh alias Harman (23) from Amritsar — were allegedly working under the directions of a Dubai-based drug smuggler operating from Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Police investigations revealed that Mohit had recently returned from Dubai after allegedly being trained to transport consignments of heroin and methamphetamine. The duo was reportedly involved in supplying narcotics across Punjab’s Majha and Doaba regions.
Commissioner of Police Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said the arrests were made during a targeted intelligence-led operation when the suspects were intercepted while riding a motorcycle. The narcotics were recovered during the search operation.
During interrogation, Mohit allegedly disclosed that the Dubai-based handler was luring economically vulnerable youth into the drug trade. Police further found that Arshdeep was already active in trafficking operations and had been storing heroin consignments before passing them on for delivery.
Officials said the same Dubai-linked network had earlier surfaced in February this year when two associates were arrested with 7.6 kg heroin and drug money. The alleged kingpin’s mother and sister are also currently lodged in Amritsar Central Jail in connection with a separate 42 kg heroin recovery case.
A case under the NDPS Act has been registered at Chheharta Police Station, and further investigations are underway to trace the cartel’s wider network and establish forward and backward linkages.
