Punjab Police has successfully dismantled a major drug and hawala racket with the arrest of five individuals following a brief exchange of gunfire.
The operation, carried out by the Tarn Taran Police, led to the recovery of illegal weapons, narcotics, and a significant amount of cash. Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav shared details of the crackdown on X, stating that it was a decisive action against drug financing.
He highlighted that the arrested individuals were part of a larger syndicate involved in drug trafficking and hawala transactions.
During the operation, the accused opened fire on the police party, prompting officers to respond swiftly. In the exchange of fire, two of the accused sustained bullet injuries in their legs.
They were immediately provided medical assistance. The investigation that followed resulted in the arrest of Iqbal Singh, identified as a key facilitator in the hawala network.
Singh was found to have direct links with Dubai-based drug cartels and played a crucial role in funding cross-border drug smuggling operations. Upon interrogation, he admitted to transferring Rs 50 crore in the past three months to finance the illicit trade.
The police registered a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the Arms Act, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The crackdown also led to the seizure of seven kilograms of opium, three pistols of 30-bore caliber with six magazines, Rs 23.10 lakh in drug money, and a currency counting machine.
The successful operation marks a significant step in Punjab Police’s efforts to curb drug-related crimes and disrupt the financial channels supporting narcotics smuggling.
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