Punjab Police seize 47.3 kg of heroin, bust cross-border smuggling racket
The Punjab Police seized 47.3 kg of heroin, three pistols and cartridges and arrested four people after intercepting their car in Faridkot. The recovery has intensified the probe into a drone-assisted cross-border smuggling network in the state.
Punjab Police has seized 47.3 kg of heroin, three pistols, three magazines and 15 live cartridges after uncovering a cross-border smuggling network in Faridkot, officials said on Sunday. Four men from Ferozepur were arrested in the operation, and two vehicles used in the smuggling activity were also impounded.
Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said those arrested have been identified as Ankush, Mangal Singh, Sachin alias Sanju and Anmol Singh. Preliminary investigation has found that the four were linked to a network involved in smuggling heroin and illegal arms into Punjab from across the border, he said.
Sharing details of the operation, Faridkot Senior Superintendent of Police Gurbans Singh Bains said the arrests were made during a checkpoint set up for the forthcoming Baba Farid Agman Purab festival.
A Faridkot police team intercepted a car on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday and detained its four occupants.
On searching the vehicle, police recovered the 47.3 kg of heroin consignment along with the illegal weapons and ammunition, Bains said.
The probe further revealed that the gang had been receiving consignments of heroin and weapons dropped by drones from across the border in the border areas of Fazilka and Ferozepur districts for further distribution in the state.
Police said further investigation is under way to uncover the wider network and establish its forward and backward linkages.
A case has been registered at Sadiq police station in Faridkot under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and the Arms Act.