CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR, June 30: In a major crackdown on Drug Trafficking Operations , the Amritsar Commissionerate Police has taken significant action. This occurs amidst the ongoing anti-drugs ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign, which was launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. With the support of the Border Security Force (BSF) and Rajasthan Police, they busted a major international drug cartel. The cartel was operated by Pak-based smuggler Tanveer Shah and Canada-based handler Joban Kaler. This operation resulted in the recovery of a huge consignment of 60.302 Kg Heroin from near the International Border in Barmer, Rajasthan, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Monday.

          The operation has led to the arrest of at least nine persons including smugglers, traffickers and hawala operators from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Jammu & Kashmir.

Nine, Including Hawala Operator, Arrested from Punjab and J&K

Police have identified those arrested as Gagandeep Singh alias Gagan (23) of village Rampura in Amritsar, Jashanpreet Singh alias Jashan (20) of village Khurmania in Amritsar, Gursahib Singh (25) of village Boparai Baj in Amritsar, Rajeev Panjgotra alias Rajveer (29) of village Kalyana in J&K, Somnath (62) of Fatehpur Brahmana in J&K, Prashotam Singh alias Kala (50) of Simbal camp in J&K, Kulwinder Singh (24) of village Mullechak in Amritsar, Rajinder Kaur (42) of village Tanda in J&K, and one hawala operator.

          DGP Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigations have shown that Pakistan-based smuggler Tanveer Shah and Canada-based smuggler Joban Kaler operated the drug cartel. They did this with help from local kingpin Gursahib Singh. Singh was already lodged in Goindwal Sahib Jail. He continued to run the network from inside the jail using a mobile phone. His phone has been recovered with the help of jail authorities and his production warrant was obtained for deeper probe into Canada-Pakistan linkages, he said.

          The DGP said that further investigations are on to establish forward and backward linkages in this case.

Drug Trafficking Operations : Amritsar Drug Network Busted: 60 Kg Heroin Seized, Hawala Operator Held

          Commissioner of Police (CP) Amritsar Gurpreet Singh Bhullar shared more details. He said that the operation began after Gursahib Singh was arrested last month with 1 kg heroin from Chheharta. Gursahib was in jail, but he still managed operations through his nephew Jashanpreet Singh. He also worked with associate Gagandeep Singh. Both were arrested with 102 gm heroin. Their interrogation led to the huge 60 kg heroin consignment in Barmer, he said.

He said that during the investigation, the hawala network used for routing drug money has been exposed. This exposure happened with the arrest of the hawala-operator.

          DCP (D) City Ravinderpal Singh supervised the operation. ADCP (D) Jagbinder Singh and ADCP-2 Harpal Singh were also in charge. ACP (D) Yadwinder Singh and ACP West Shivdarshan Singh led as well. SHO Chheharta Vinod Sharma participated. CIA-1 Incharge Amolakdeep Singh and CIA-2 Incharge Ravi Kumar also supervised the operation.

Drugs Smuggled via Indo-Pak Border, Five Linked to Tanveer Shah Identified

        The CP said the probe has shown that smugglers brought drugs from across the Indo-Pak border, routed them through Rajasthan to Punjab, and distributed them further through local networks. While working on backward linkages, authorities also identified five more accused associated with Tanveer Shah of Pakistan.

Authorities are conducting raids to nab them, he said.

          A case FIR No. 118 dated 17/06/2025 under sections 21-B, 21-C, 27-B and 29 of NDPS Act has been registered at Police Station Chheharta in Amritsar.