Punjab police busts international drug syndicate using jackets to smuggle narcotics; two operatives held with 1.5kg heroin

CHANDIGARH: Amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a drug-free state, SAS Nagar Police has busted an International drug trafficking syndicate that used jackets to smuggle heroin into the state, with the arrest of its two operatives and recovered three half-sleeve jackets stashed with 500 grams heroin in each from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Friday.

Those arrested have been identified as Sukhdeep Singh alias Raja, a resident of Bhana in Faridkot and Krishan, a resident of Ajaib in Rohtak.

Apart from recovering 1.5kg heroin, Police teams have also impounded their white coloured Hyundai Aura (HR 12 AT 7091) car, which they were using to smuggle narcotics in the guise of a taxi.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigation has revealed that these drug consignments were bought from an Afghan national based in Delhi, exposing their network with international drug cartels and their clever tactics of hiding heroin in jackets to evade detection.

He said that during the initial interrogation, arrested accused disclosed that they had smuggled four consignments of heroin in connivance with Kotkapura-based notorious drug smuggler identified as Lakhwinder Singh in last two months and the recent 10Kg of heroin was bought in mid of September, which was delivered in Moga. Facing at least 10 cases of NDPS Act, Accused Lakhwinder Singh is said to be the key person of this module, who has been managing the entire drug network.

The DGP said that Police teams are on manhunt to nab absconding Lakhwinder Singh. Further investigations are on to establish backward and forward linkages in this case, he added.

Sharing operation details, DIG Ropar Range Nilambari Jagdale said that a reliable input was received that two members of a drug syndicate, in possession of heroin, were coming from Delhi towards Mohali in a white Hyundai Aura. Acting swiftly, Police teams led by DSP Bikramjit Singh Brar laid a special Naka near Dappar toll plaza in Lalru and successfully intercepted the vehicle, leading to the arrests and recovery of narcotics, she said.

SSP Deepak Pareek, while addressing a press conference, further informed that arrested accused Sukhdeep also had a criminal past with a kidnapping case registered against him in 2020. Since coming out on bail from Faridkot Jail in May 2024, he started indulging in this heroin smuggling network in July 2024, he added.

The SSP said that the arrested accused had also rented accommodation in Sohana, SAS Nagar, to facilitate their drug smuggling operations.

A case FIR No. 141 dated 03/10/2024 has been registered under sections 21 and 29 of the NDPS Act at Police Station Lalru in SAS Nagar.