— ARRESTED ACCUSED WERE IN CONTACT WITH DUBAI-BASED HANDLER THROUGH VIRTUAL NUMBERS: DGP GAURAV YADAV
— DUBAI-BASED HANDLER HAS BEEN OPERATING MULTIPLE NARCOTICS NETWORKS: CP ASR GURPREET BHULLAR
CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR, February 12:
In a major breakthrough amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a drug-free state as per directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Amritsar Commissionerate Police has busted a cross-border narco-smuggling network with the arrest of two operatives and recovered a consignment of 7.6 kg heroin along with Rs 21,800 drug money from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Thursday.
Those arrested have been identified as Sahibpreet Singh alias Sahib (19), a native of Fatehgarh Churian, Batala and presently residing in Chheharta, Amritsar; and Gagandeep Singh alias Gagan (26), a resident of Guru Nanakpura in Kot Khalsa, Amritsar. Both accused persons have previous criminal records, with cases under the Arms Act and for snatching-related offences registered against them.
DGP Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigation has revealed that the arrested accused were in contact with a Dubai-based handler through virtual numbers, facilitating cross-border heroin consignments from across the border via drones and directing pickup locations and further supply chains. The Dubai-based handler is also linked to multiple narcotics networks and a major NDPS case involving recovery of 43 kg heroin, he said.
The DGP said that further investigation is underway to trace forward and backward linkages of the network.
Sharing operational details, Commissioner of Police (CP) Amritsar Gurpreet Singh Bhullar acting on specific and reliable secret information, police teams conducted a well-planned operation and apprehended both the suspects and recovered 7.6 kg heroin along with drug money from their possession.
The CP said that during investigations, it has also surfaced that the Dubai-based handler has been operating multiple narcotics networks. Further investigations are ongoing to dismantle the whole network, he added.
