Drug cartel with Pak links busted in Bathinda

In a significant breakthrough against trans-border narco-smuggling amidst the ongoing anti-drugs 'Yudh Nashian Virudh' campaign launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Bathinda Police has busted an international drug cartel being operated by foreign-based smuggler with the arrest of its six key drug traffickers and recovered 40 kg heroin from their Toyota Fortuner car, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Tuesday.

Those arrested have been identified as Lakhvir Singh alias Lakha (33), Prabhjot Singh (26), Ranjodh Singh (27), Akash Marwaha (21), Rohit Kumar (25), and Gurcharan Singh alias Guri (27), all residents of Malout in Sri Muktsar Sahib. Accused persons Lakhvir Singh and Prabhjit Singh have criminal background with cases pertaining to Arms Act and NDPS Act registered against them respectively.

The development came close on the heels of Amritsar Commissionerate Police busting a drug cartel being operated by Pak-based smuggler Tanveer Shah and Canada-based handler Joban Kaler with the arrest of nine drug smugglers and recovered huge consignment of 60.302 Kg Heroin from near the International Border in Barmer, Rajasthan.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigations have revealed that the consignment was sent by Pakistan-based handlers for further distribution in Punjab.

The DGP said that further investigations are on to establish forward and backward linkages in this case to uncover the full extent of the drug supply chain, including its cross-border linkages.

Sharing more details, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Bathinda Amneet Kondal said that the operation began after specific inputs were received about drug smuggling in the area.

Acting swiftly, a team from CIA Staff-1 Bathinda launched a special operation and intercepted a Fortuner car, bearing registration number PB-53E-6771, with six occupants, she said, while adding that during search 40 Kg Heroin was recovered from the vehicle.

The SSP said that probe has also revealed that drugs were being smuggled from across the Indo-Pak border and routed through local smugglers in Punjab. Further working on backward linkages more accused associated with Pakistan-based handlers are being identified and raids are being conducted to nab them, she added.

In this regard, a case FIR no. 132 has been registered under section 21C of the NDPS Act at Police Station Kotwali in Bathinda.