PUNJAB POLICE BUST DRUG CARTEL RUNNING FROM INSIDE JAIL; 7 HELD WITH 15KG HEROIN, Rs 7L DRUG MONEY

— PUNJAB POLICE COMMITTED TO MAKING PUNJAB A DRUG-FREE STATE AS PER VISION OF CM BHAGWANT MANN

— MASTERMIND JASPREET KALI, WHO IS LODGED IN FARIDKOT JAIL WAS IN TOUCH WITH PAK-BASED DRUG SMUGGLERS, SAYS DGP GAURAV YADAV

CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR, September 2:

          The ongoing war against drugs waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann delivered yet another blow to the trans-border narcotic smuggling networks after Punjab Police busted a major drug cartel being operated from inside the jail with the arrest of seven drug smugglers— including three delivery persons and four receivers— after recovering 15Kg heroin and Rs 7 lakh drug money from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Saturday.

          Those arrested have been identified as Gurpinder Singh alias Bhinda, Narinder Singh and Ranjodh Singh alias Jodha, all residents of village Haruwal in Gurdaspur, and Rajdeep Singh, Ram Singh, Jaspal Singh, Rajwinder Kaur, all residents of Ferozepur. Apart from heroin and drug money, Police teams have also impounded two cars including a Swift Dzire Car (PB01-D-0835) and a Maruti SX-4 (PB47-E-7502).

          DGP Gaurav Yadav said that Counter Intelligence Amritsar had received reliable input that Gurpinder Bhinda, Narinder and Ranjodh Jodha had recently retrieved a heroin consignment from the area of village Haruwal, which was sent by Pak-based smugglers using drones and are expected to deliver it to some party in Amritsar.

          He said that acting on the information, the operation team of Counter Intelligence Amritsar arrested a trio accused persons from Haruwal area of Gurdaspur and recovered 15Kg heroin from their possession. The consignment was delivered in six sorties, each carrying a packet of 2.5 Kg Heroin, he added.

          “Investigations have revealed that the mastermind Jaspreet Singh alias Kali of Moga, who is currently lodged in Faridkot Jail, was in touch with Pak-based drug smugglers via WhatsApp and managing this drug cartel from the jail,” said the DGP, while adding that the Police teams will soon bring him on production warrant for further investigations.

          Sharing more details, AIG Counter Intelligence Amritsar said that during the investigation, accused Gurpinder Bhinda revealed that accused Jaspreet Kali is expected to send a party to collect the consignment from a Parking lot near the Town Hall in Amritsar City.

          He said that acting swiftly, Police teams immediately laid a nakabandi near the Parking and arrested the remaining four accused persons, who came to pick up the heroin consignment. The Police teams have recovered Rs 7 lakh drug money and two cars from their possession, he added.

          A case FIR No. 28 dated 01-09-2023 has been registered under sections 21 and 29 of the NDPS Act at Police Station State Special Operation Cell, Amritsar.