The ongoing war against drugs waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann dealt yet another major blow to the Pakistan-controlled trans-border drug trafficking network after Punjab Police in a joint operation with Border Security Force (BSF) arrested two Pakistani Nationals and recovered 26 packets of heroin— weighing 29.2Kg, from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Monday.
Those arrested have been identified as Muhammad Ajmal Riyan of village Kanganpur in district Kasur, Punjab, Pakistan and Sivna of village Alipur in district Kasur, Punjab, Pakistan. Pertinently, this is the eighth major heroin consignment recovered by the Punjab Police in this month, taking the total recovery of heroin to 142kg in just 20 days.
DGP Gaurav Yadav said that in an intelligence-led operation, Counter Intelligence (CI) Ludhiana and CI Ferozepur along with BSF launched a joint operation in the area of village Ghazni wala in Ferozepur and arrested both Pakistani Nationals. One Pakistani National suffered a bullet injury in his right arm in a brief exchange fire with security forces, he said, while adding that the injured was taken to Mamdot BSF Hospital for treatment.
Special DGP Internal Security RN Dhoke said that the Internal Security wing has recovered 193 Kg heroin since January 1, 2023. Sharing more details, AIG CI Ludhiana Simratpal Singh Dhindsa said that following the reliable inputs about the influx of large quantity of heroin from across the border, the police party arrested two Pakistani drug smugglers after recovering 29.2Kg heroin from their possession.
More arrests are expected, he said. AIG CI Fazilka Lakhbir Singh said that FIR No 29 dated 21/08/2023 has been registered under sections 21C, 29 and 30 of the NDPS Act, sections 3/34/20 of the Indian Passport Act and section 14 of Foreign Act at Police Station SSOC Fazilka.
Investigations are on to establish backward and forward linkages, he added.
Eighth Major Heroin Recovery In Last 20 Days
August 17: Jalandhar Rural Police arrested a drug smuggler identified as Joga Singh of village Rajapur in Ludhiana after recovering 8kg heroin from his possession
August 11: CI Amritsar busted a cross-border drug smuggling racket with the arrest of a drug smuggler identified as Harpal Singh alias Bhala, a resident of village Lakhna in District Tarn Tarn after recovering 5Kg heroin from his possession
August 10: Amritsar Rural Police busted a cross-border drug smuggling racket with the arrest of three drug smugglers after recovering 12Kg heroin from their possession
August 6: Counter Intelligence Ferozepur busted two separate cross-border drug smuggling rackets with the arrest of four drug traffickers after recovering 77.8Kg heroin (41.8Kg+36Kg) and three pistols from their possession
August 5: SSOC Amritsar recovered 4kg heroin concealed beneath the road in the village Bute Dian Chhana in Mehatpur
August 3: SSOC Amritsar busted a cross-border drug smuggling racket with the arrest of drug smuggler identified as Shinder Singh after recovering 6Kg heroin and Rs 1.5 lakh drug money from his possession.