PUNJAB POLICE RECOVER 15KG HEROIN FROM TRACTOR-TROLLEY LOADED WITH WHEAT STRAW; ONE HELD

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

— CONSIGNMENT SUSPECTED TO BE SMUGGLED VIA RIVERINE ROUTE, SAYS DGP GAURAV YADAV

— POLICE TEAMS ON MANHUNT TO NAB DRUG SMUGGLER’S WIFE AND SON-IN-LAW, WHO MANAGED TO ESCAPE: AIG LAKHBIR SINGH

— SSOC FAZILKA RECOVERS 145KG HEROIN IN LAST 45 DAYS

CHANDIGARH/FAZILKA, September 9:

Amidst the ongoing war against drugs waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Police’s State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) Fazilka has foiled a major drug smuggling bid with the arrest of a smuggler after recovering 10 packets of heroin, weighing 15-Kg, from his wheat straw-laden tractor-trolley, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Saturday.

The arrested drug smuggler has been identified as Pritam Singh of village Mohar Jamsher in Fazilka. Apart from recovering heroin, Police teams have also impounded his Tractor Sonalika (PB-11-Y- 6879) and trolley, on which he was travelling.

Notably, this is the fifth major heroin recovery made by the SSOC Fazilka in the last 45 days, taking the total recovery to 145kg.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said that following intel-inputs, SSOC Fazilka has launched a special secret operation against trans-border narcotic smuggling networks in the area of village Dhani Kharas Wali and arrested drug smuggler Pritam Singh, who was on the way to deliver the heroin consignment, which was kept concealed in the trolley beneath the wheat straw.

He said that the arrested drug smuggler was travelling along with his wife identified as Kushalya Bai and son-in-law identified as Gurmeet Singh of village Dhani Kharas Wali in Fazilka, who managed to escape from the spot.

Not ruling out the possibility of the consignment being smuggled via riverine route, the DGP said, “This family was among the few households of border village Mohar Jamsher, who insisted on staying put at their flood-ravaged premises despite repeated requests by the District Administration and Police authorities to move to the safer places.”

Sharing more details, AIG SSOC Fazilka Lakhbir Singh said that they are investigating the case from various angles and more recovery is expected. “We have also booked absconding accused Kaushlya Bai and Gurmeet Singh, and Police teams are on a manhunt to nab them,” he added.

A case FIR number 31 dated 08-09-2023 has been registered under sections 21(C), 29 and 30 of the NDPS Act at Police Station SSOC Fazilka.

BOX: FIFTH MAJOR HEROIN RECOVERY BY SSOC FAZILKA IN LAST 45 DAYS

July 23: 20kg heroin recovered from a Granthi identified as Nishan Singh of Jora Singh Nagar Ferozepur

August 6: Two separate cross-border drug smuggling rackets were busted with the arrest of four drug traffickers after recovering 77.8Kg heroin (41.8Kg+36Kg) and three pistols from their possession

August 16: 3Kg heroin recovered from Ferozepur

August 21: Two Pakistani nationals were arrested with 29.2Kg heroin recovered from the area of village Ghazni wala in Ferozepur