Chandigarh: The Punjab police on Thursday claimed to have busted two international narco-trafficking cartels with the arrest of six drug smugglers, including a woman, and recovered 4 kg heroin from their possession.
Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab, Gaurav Yadav, said that those arrested have been identified as Vishal Singh, 23, Didar Singh alias Kali, 50, Sevenbir Singh, 25, Harjit Singh, 38, Jaj Singh, 19, and Jasbir Kaur, 60. Apart from recovering heroin, police teams have also impounded their Toyota Innova car, which they were using to deliver drug consignments, he added.
DGP Yadav said that preliminary investigation has revealed that one module is operated by arrested accused Sevenbir, who is in direct contact with Pak-based smugglers. The latter received heroin consignments and operated under the guise of livestock trade, he said.
The DGP said that another arrested accused, Jasbir Kaur, is linked to the cartel of the notorious smuggler Ranjeet alias Cheeta and maintained contact with smugglers in both India and across the border.
The police said that arrested accused Sevenbir Singh was running the cartel in the garb of sale/purchase of goats for the past five years from which he amassed wealth to build a large house in his village apart from other property.
The accused has been receiving narcotic consignments through drones in the vicinity of his village which lies very close to the international border with Pakistan. After retrieval he used to conceal the contraband in his relatives’ home and later, used to distribute it through his associates, police said.
ARMS SMUGGLING MODULE BUSTED
Meanwhile, in another development, Punjab police claimed to have dismantled a cross-border weapon smuggling module with links to Pakistan and arrested its two operatives after recovering six highly sophisticated pistols - four 9MM Glock 26 and two .30 bore PX5 - along with live cartridges from their possession.
DGP Yadav said the arrested accused have been identified as Surajpal Singh and Arshdeep Singh, both residents of Tarn Taran. He said accused Surajpal was in direct contact with Pakistan-based handlers identified as Rana and Sikander, who were using drones to drop consignments of arms-ammunition.
