Amritsar: The police in Amritsar, Punjab, have seized 54 kg heroin in three operations over the last four days. The heroin was sent into India from Pakistan by drones, authorities confirmed.
In the latest operation, the Counter Intelligence (CI) Unit of Amritsar arrested three key operatives and recovered 17 kg of heroin from their possession, Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said.
Those arrested have been identified as Prince, Malkit Singh, and Rajinder Singh, all residents of Kot Mit Singh, Amritsar. The police have also impounded a silver Maruti Swift car being used for transporting the illicit contraband, as reported by Hindustan Times.
Preliminary investigation has revealed that the arrested accused were allegedly operating in coordination with cross-border smugglers and receiving heroin consignments for further supply, the DGP said.
CI Amritsar teams received specific input that three operatives of a cross-border smuggling module had received a drone-dropped consignment and were expected to strike a major drug deal beneath the flyover on the Amritsar-Tarn Taran road, Yadav said.
Police teams established a strategic checkpoint (naka) and intercepted their Swift car near the flyover, he said, adding that 17 kg of heroin was recovered from their possession during the search.
Further investigation is underway to establish the complete forward and backward linkages in this case to identify other persons involved and dismantle the wider cross-border narcotics smuggling network, the DGP said.
A case under sections 21, 25, and 29 of the NDPS Act has been registered at Police Station State Special Operation Cell (SSOC), Amritsar.
CI Amritsar, has busted three major narcotics modules this month. On September 16, four people were arrested with 27 kg heroin and one sophisticated foreign-made .30 bore PX5 pistol along with three cartridges. On September 18, one person was held with 10 kg heroin, and on September 19, three persons were held with 17 kg heroin.
