In a significant crackdown on narcotics trafficking, the Amritsar police on Thursday announced the busting of a sophisticated cross-border smuggling cartel. The operation led to the arrest of three individuals allegedly involved in the trafficking of heroin and illegal arms.
Arrests and Major Seizure
Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar detailed that the force successfully apprehended the three accused and made a substantial recovery. 4.5 kilograms of heroin and one pistol were seized from their possession. The arrested men have been identified as Gurwinder Singh, also known as Gopi (23), from Shahwala village in Ferozepur; Tilak alias Shibu (18), a native of Rajiv Gandhi Vihar in Jalandhar; and Daljit Singh alias Lala (20), a resident of Mustafabad village in Amritsar.
Modus Operandi and International Links
A preliminary investigation uncovered that the accused were operating under the direction of a foreign-based handler, with coordination happening primarily through social media platforms. On receiving instructions, the trio was responsible for transporting and supplying consignments of heroin and illegal weapons across various locations.
Commissioner Bhullar explained that the breakthrough came with the arrest of Gurwinder Singh (Gopi), who was caught with 1.5kg of heroin and the pistol. His subsequent interrogation revealed the involvement of the other two men, leading to their arrests and the recovery of an additional 3kg of heroin.
Drone Drops from Pakistan
The probe shed light on a critical aspect of the smuggling network. Gurwinder Singh, due to his residence near the India-Pakistan international border in Ferozepur, was actively involved in receiving drug consignments and other illegal materials from Pakistan. These consignments were delivered via drone drops in the Ferozepur region.
Furthermore, investigations confirmed that Gurwinder Singh coordinated directly with a foreign-based smuggler to procure these illegal shipments. This revelation points to a well-organized network leveraging technology for cross-border crime.
The bust marks a crucial victory for the Amritsar police in their ongoing war against drug trafficking, highlighting the evolving challenges of drone-based smuggling and the use of digital platforms by criminal elements.
