In a major crackdown on drug trafficking, the Punjab Police arrested eight individuals, including an inspector from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), following the dismantling of a significant drug cartel. The operation led to the seizure of 4.04 kg of heroin, highlighting the scale of the network operating in the region.
Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar revealed that the arrests were made after a thorough investigation into the cartel's operations. The first breakthrough came with the arrest of two key figures – Manjit, an inspector with the anti-smuggling agency DRI from Rohtak, Haryana, and Ravi Kumar, a resident of Gandhi Nagar in Ferozepur.
According to Bhullar, Manjit was allegedly using his position to facilitate the drug network, working in tandem with Ravi. The two were reportedly sourcing consignments of heroin from across the India-Pakistan border, with Ravi directly liaising with foreign-based smugglers.
Following the arrests of Manjit and Ravi, further investigations uncovered a larger network, leading to the capture of six more individuals: Palwinder Singh, alias Tindu; Rohit Sharma, alias Rohit; Abhishek Singh; Arshdeep Singh; Amit Kumar, alias Sonu; and Satnam Singh, all residents of Amritsar. These individuals are believed to have played key roles in drug smuggling operations and hawala financing, contributing to the broader network.
Bhullar disclosed that Amit Kumar was found to be operating a cross-border hawala network, facilitating the financial transactions related to the drug trade. The police have now registered multiple FIRs under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at the Chheharta and Ranjit Avenue police stations.
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The investigation indicates that the cartel's operations were extensive, with further probes underway to identify additional members of the network. Police are working to trace the individuals involved in the receipt and distribution of the heroin, including a yet-to-be-identified accomplice who was set to receive the drugs.
Efforts are also being made to uncover the full scale of the operation, including the total amount of drugs previously trafficked by those arrested.
In addition to the arrests, police have impounded a motorcycle that was being used for transporting the heroin consignments, further evidence of the cartel's intricate logistics. Authorities are continuing their efforts to dismantle the entire network and ensure that all involved parties face legal consequences for their roles in the illicit drug trade.
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