New Dehi: A senior official stated on Monday that the Chandigarh zonal unit of the Narcotics Control Bureau had busted an international drug syndicate operating from Ludhiana and made 16 arrests, including two Afghan nationals, reported news agency PTI. The official from the NCB stated in Mohali that the action against the heroin smuggling syndicate began on November 15 of last year with the seizure of the illegal substance and the person's arrest.
According to the Deputy Director General (Northern Region) of the NCB Gyaneshwar Singh, the NCB unit busted the entire chain of this international drug syndicate during follow-up raids and searches.
The NCB busted two heroin processing labs in Ludhiana that were being run by Afghan nationals during investigations. The Afghans who ran the labs have been arrested.
"A special investigation team under Amanjit Singh, Zonal Director, NCB-Chandigarh, has been formed and includes investigating officers from various NCB zones as this international drug syndicate is spread across various countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, etc. and different states across India," he said.
More than 60 bank accounts belonging to this group have been "debit frozen," and freezing orders under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act are being considered, he stated. Specialized financial and technical investigation teams have also been established in this case.
The NCB arrested Sandeep Singh from Ludhiana and seized 20.36 kilograms of heroin in November.
The National Crime Bureau (NCB) claims that Sandeep Singh is one of Akshay Kumar Chhabra's close associates. Chhabra is the drug syndicate's arrested kingpin and is said to have links to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
According to the NCB official, Akshay Kumar Chhabra's primary strategy was to import heroin and morphine from Afghanistan via the cargo route and produce additional heroin in Ludhiana.
Qari Hamidullah Yusufi and Hakim Salimi, a chemist who is a friend of Yusufi, have been identified as the Afghan nationals who were arrested.
The two are alleged to have been involved in heroin processing and production in western Uttar Pradesh, New Delhi, and Punjab.
Gyaneshwar Singh stated that the necessary action is being taken against thirty properties that this syndicate purchased with proceeds from drug sales.
He stated that the investigation has also revealed that this group was operating nightclubs and restaurants in the Tricity of Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula. It is the subject of in-depth inquiry.
He continued, "Also, various other front businesses of this international drug syndicate like liquor vends, rice mill, ghee business and different agencies of reputed brands and role of their associates are being inquired into."
In connection with the case, the agency seized 34.66 kilograms of heroin, 5.47 kilograms of morphine, 0.557 kilograms of opium, and 23.64 kilograms of suspected narcotics powder.
(With PTI Inputs)