Drug module with Pak links busted, 64kg heroin seized

Amritsar: The State Special Operations Cell (SSOC), Amritsar, on Saturday claimed to have busted a cross-border drug smuggling module and recovered 64.62 kg of heroin. Two people were also arrested.The arrested accused persons were identified as Sarwan Singh alias Gujjar, a resident of Awan Wasau village, and Shamsher Singh alias Shera, a resident of Dial Rangar village in Amritsar.Gaurav Yadav, director general of police (DGP), said apart from heroin seizure, the SSOC also impounded a vehicle used in narcotics smuggling.Yadav said preliminary investigation revealed the module's links with Pakistan-based smugglers and a Portugal-based handler.The links of this cross-border trafficking ring have also been established with a network of notorious Pakistan-based smuggler Moosa, whose name had cropped up in the 532-kg heroin seizure made by the Indian Customs officials at the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari in 2019, said DGP.The AIG, SSOC (Amritsar), Sukhminder Singh Mann, said a reliable input was received regarding suspects Sarwan Singh and Shamsher Singh having retrieved a consignment of heroin deliveries through a drone from across the border a few days ago.The input further revealed that on the instructions of their handlers, the duo were en route to deliver the consignment to another party, said Mann, adding that the SSOC Amritsar unit intercepted them near the Mahal bypass in Amritsar and recovered 64.62 kg of heroin from their possession.The AIG said the arrested accused persons were promised huge payback by their handlers. More arrests and recoveries are likely in the coming days as the investigation progresses, he added.A case under Sections 21, 25 and 29 of the NDPS Act and Sections 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 of the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam has been registered at police station SSOC, Amritsar.3 arrested with 4.5kg heroin in FerozepurFerozepur: The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) Ferozepur Range arrested three persons with 4.5 kg of heroin in two separate operations.Bhupinder Singh, DSP, ANTF, said in the first operation, two individuals — Harpal Singh alias Bhala and Shamsher Singh alias Shera — were apprehended with over 2kg heroin along with an Innova Crysta (PB02DV1919) from their possession.In another operation, the ANTF team intercepted a drone-linked heroin consignment, leading to the arrest of Supanpreet Singh alias Supan, a resident of Village Pritam Singh Wala in Ferozepur. The team recovered 2.48 kg heroin along with packing material and radium strips, suspected to be used for nighttime drone deliveries. The DSP added that investigations are ongoing to uncover the entire network and identify the main suppliers. Meanwhile, Ghubaya police in Fazilka district also recovered a packet of heroin from a wheat field located in the India-Pakistan border area. It is suspected that this heroin was sent from Pakistan to India via a drone. Notably, the police and the BSF recovered this consignment during a joint operation. The police have registered a case and initiated an investigation. The recovered heroin is reported to weigh approximately 520 grams.