The Narcotics Control Bureau's (NCB) Chandigarh Zonal Unit has successfully detained a major drug trafficker from Punjab, dealing a significant blow to an extensive interstate and cross-border narcotics network. The individual, identified as Sandeep Singh, who also goes by the alias Chatha, has been placed under preventive detention using the powerful Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PITNDPS) Act of 1988.
A History-Sheeter with Deep Criminal Roots
Sandeep Singh, a resident of Rasulpur Rohi village in Amritsar district, is a listed history-sheeter with a long criminal record. Official records indicate his involvement in at least seven criminal cases, with three specifically registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act since 2013. His journey into the spotlight of drug enforcement agencies began between 2017 and 2018, when he was arrested on two separate occasions by the police forces of Tarn Taran and Amritsar in connection with heroin seizures.
Despite these repeated encounters with the law, authorities state that Sandeep Singh persistently expanded his illegal operations. He systematically scaled up his network, forging critical links that extended beyond Punjab's borders, facilitating the flow of narcotics across states and internationally.
The 2022 Crackdown and Unraveling a Major Syndicate
His activities prompted a major investigation in 2022, leading to his arrest by the NCB's Chandigarh team during a targeted operation against an organised drug syndicate. This crackdown was notably successful, resulting in the dismantling of two clandestine drug processing laboratories.
The haul from this operation was substantial, underscoring the scale of the network. The NCB seized 40 kilograms of heroin, 557 grams of opium, and over 23 kilograms of caffeine, along with various precursor chemicals essential for heroin manufacturing. In a concerning find, the agency also recovered 31 live cartridges and one magazine. The operation led to the arrest of 22 syndicate members.
Further probes revealed Sandeep Singh's pivotal operational role. He was instrumental in managing high-volume heroin consignments moving through multiple Indian states. Investigators specifically uncovered his involvement in orchestrating the transportation of a massive 120 kg shipment of raw heroin from Ludhiana in Punjab to Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh.
Financial Probe and Network Links
A parallel financial investigation yielded significant results, with authorities freezing movable and immovable assets worth a staggering Rs 58.6 crore linked to the case. This included properties valued at Rs 34.77 lakh allegedly acquired through illicit means by Sandeep Singh himself.
The NCB also established his connections with other notorious criminals. He was found to be linked with Jagdeep Singh, an accused known for allegedly facilitating the supply of weapons and narcotics from Jammu and Kashmir to Punjab, Delhi, and Haryana. Interestingly, both individuals had previously been arrested together in a 2017 case by Tarn Taran police and had spent time in the same prison.
Preventive Detention and Coordinated Execution
Given the persistent threat and the vast scale of his operations, the NCB moved to ensure he could not continue his trafficking activities. The agency pursued a proposal for his preventive detention in September 2025. Following due process, the Central government issued the formal detention order on November 27, 2025.
The order was finally executed on January 7, 2026, through a coordinated effort between the NCB Chandigarh unit and the Punjab Police's Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF). This action places Sandeep Singh in detention without trial to prevent him from engaging in further drug trafficking.
The NCB has confirmed that Sandeep Singh Chatha is the fourth member of this syndicate to be detained under the PITNDPS Act outside Punjab. The other three are Akshay Chabra and Jaspal Goldy, held in Dibrugarh, Assam, and Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, detained in Silchar, Assam.
