In a major haul, the Punjab Police on Wednesday seized 41 kilograms of heroin after they busted a cross-border drug network and arrested three smugglers in Amritsar. Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of the Special Task Force (STG) Mukhtiar Rai said that they nabbed the three during an operation from Mehmed Mandara Wala village which comes under the Ramdass police station. Rai told ANI that they acted on a tip-off, and seized the drugs from the house of one of the accused.
The accused were identified as Agyapal Singh of Ghumrai village in Ramdass area, who is allegedly the kingpin of the racket, besides Ranjit Singh, a resident of Mehmed Mandara Wala village and Sandeep Singh of Panj Garaya village in Amritsar. All three accused are in the age group of 25 and 28. A First Information Report (FIR) has been lodged against all three, and further legal action is underway.
AIG, STF, Mukhtar Rai, said that the consignment of heroin was smuggled through the Ravi river in Ramdas area around six days ago.
The AIG said that the accused Agyapal Singh had contacts with Pakistan-based drug smugglers and his links with Pakistan intelligence agencies were being looked into.
A case was registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act at STF police station, Mohali.
"Heroin transported through Ravi river. The main kingpin involved in the Trans Border narcotic network was arrested," he added.
A case in this regard has been registered, he said, adding that investigation was underway to establish backward and forward linkages.