In the biggest drug seizure of 2025 amidst the ongoing anti-drugs campaign ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Tarn Taran Police has busted a cross-border Pak-ISI controlled narco-smuggling module being operated by UK-based drug handler Lalli with the arrest of his India-based operative and recovered 85 kg heroin from his possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Friday.
The arrested operative, identified as Amarjot Singh alias Jota Sandhu, was using his residence at village Bhittewad in Amritsar as a major stash point for the network. DGP Gaurav Yadav said that accused Amarjot was working on the behest of his UK-based drug handler Lalli and was receiving drug consignments from cross border drug smugglers, who were using drones to transport the contraband.
Probe has also revealed that accused Amarjot collected heroin consignments from various border points and distributed them to local suppliers to supply further in different areas of Punjab, he added. The DGP said that further investigations are going on to establish backward and forward linkages in this case.
More arrests and recoveries are likely in coming days, he added. Sharing operation details, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Tarn Taran Abhimanyu Rana said that acting on reliable information, a police team of CIA Staff under the supervision of DSP (D) Gurinderpal Singh Nagra conducted a targeted operation and apprehended accused Amarjot Singh alias Jota Sandhu from near Chabhal road in Tarn Taran and recovered 5 kg Heroin from his Activa Scooter.
During questioning, accused Amarjot disclosed that he has concealed two consignments of 40 kg each at Rakh Sarai Amanat Khan and another is in the washing mahine at his house in village Bhittewad, said the SSP, while adding that police teams were immediately dispatched at both the locations have recovered the contraband, taking the total recovery to 85 kg.
He said that efforts are being made to uncover the entire network of suppliers, dealers, buyers and hawala handlers to ascertain the total quantity of drugs received by the arrested accused so far. A case under FIR No. 118 dated May 15, 2025, has been registered under sections 21 (c) and 25 of the NDPS Act at Tarn Taran City Police Station.