In a major crackdown on drug smuggling, the Punjab Police has successfully dismantled a Pakistan-backed drug cartel, arresting eight key operatives, including a Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officer. The police recovered 4.04 kilograms of heroin from the arrested individuals, marking a significant blow to international narcotics trafficking in the region.
Key Arrests in Drug Smuggling Operation
The arrested individuals include Manjit Singh, a DRI officer from Rohtak, and Ravi Kumar, a resident of Ferozepur, who were apprehended first with the heroin consignment. Their subsequent interrogation led to the arrest of six more suspects: Talwinder Singh, Rohit Sharma, Abhishek, Arshdeep, Amit Kumar, and Satnam Singh—all connected to the drug cartel operating across Punjab.
According to Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, the investigation revealed that Manjit Singh was misusing his official position to facilitate drug shipments, in collaboration with Ravi Kumar, who maintained direct contact with smugglers across the Pakistan border.
Pakistan-Based Smugglers Behind the Cartel
The drug network, primarily coordinated by Pakistan-based smugglers, was actively operating in Punjab with local facilitators like Ravi Kumar and Amit Kumar supporting the illegal operations. The latter was also identified as being involved in a cross-border hawala network that facilitated money laundering activities tied to the drug trade. Dubai-based hawala operators are reportedly linked to these illicit financial transactions.
Heroin Seized and Motorcycle Impounded
Police have impounded a motorcycle allegedly used for delivering heroin consignments. Bhullar stated that the cartel’s reach extended beyond Punjab, with efforts to track down the recipients of the drugs and further dismantle the network underway. Multiple FIRs have been filed under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at Chheharta and Ranjit Avenue police stations.
Ongoing Investigations and Expanding Network
Police officials have confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, with further efforts being made to identify other members of the drug syndicate, including those receiving the heroin consignments. Authorities are also working to determine the full scale of the drug operations and financial transactions linked to the cartel.
Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav took to social media platform X to announce the breakthrough, stating, “In a major blow to an international narco network, the Commissionerate Police Amritsar has dismantled two drug cartels and arrested eight key operatives. One enforcement officer misused his position to facilitate the network, while the cartel relied on cross-border hawala networks to fund the illicit activities.”
Impact on the Region’s Drug Trade
This bust highlights the ongoing battle against the growing menace of drug trafficking in Punjab, with law enforcement agencies striving to curb the influx of narcotics from across the border. The arrest of a serving DRI officer is a reminder of the vulnerabilities within enforcement agencies that traffickers exploit to fuel the drug trade. Authorities continue their efforts to track down all those connected to this expansive drug network, with hopes of further weakening the international smuggling operations.
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