In a major crackdown on narcotics smuggling, the Punjab Police has busted a cross-border drug trafficking module and arrested four persons with 28.12 kg heroin and ₹9.5 lakh in alleged drug money in Ferozepur district.
Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said the accused were linked to foreign-based smugglers and handlers who allegedly assigned them the task of retrieving and distributing narcotics consignments within Indian territory.
The arrested accused have been identified as Bagicha Singh and Bhupinder Singh, both residents of Boghi Wala village in Guru Har Sahai, Sajan of Araiyan Wala village, and Chhinder Pal Singh alias Rinku of Lakha Singh Wala village in Ferozepur. Police also impounded a Hyundai Creta allegedly used for transporting the contraband.
According to police officials, Counter Intelligence Ferozepur acted on specific intelligence inputs indicating that the accused had recently retrieved a heroin consignment smuggled from across the border and were on their way to deliver it to another party.
AIG Counter Intelligence Ferozepur Gursewak Singh said the accused had been promised huge financial rewards by their foreign-based handlers for carrying out the operation. Acting swiftly, the police intercepted the suspects near Guru Har Sahai and recovered the heroin consignment along with the cash.
Police said further investigations are underway to trace both forward and backward linkages of the network and dismantle the entire cross-border smuggling chain. More arrests and recoveries are likely in the coming days.
An FIR under relevant sections of the NDPS Act has been registered at SSOC Police Station, Fazilka.
