Amritsar police have busted a cross-border narcotics smuggling network and seized over 5 kg of heroin, officials said on Saturday. One operative, Pawandeep Singh, a resident of Amritsar, was arrested during the operation, part of an ongoing effort to make Punjab drug-free under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann.
According to Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav, Pawandeep Singh revealed that he was working under the directions of Harpal Singh, who has been living in the United States for the past two years. Harpal Singh is reportedly in touch with Pakistan-based smugglers and coordinated the smuggling of narcotics and weapons across the border using drones.
The DGP said Harpal Singh initially had a clean record but may have turned to drug smuggling after settling abroad. Investigations are ongoing to map the full network, including its domestic and international linkages.
CI Amritsar received intelligence about a narcotics consignment near the Indo-Pak border in Dhanoe Kalan. Acting swiftly, police intercepted Pawandeep Singh near Beharwal village while he was about to deliver the drugs further, recovering 5.032 kg of heroin from his possession.
A case has been registered under sections 21 and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) Act, 1985 at the State Special Operation Cell, Amritsar.
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