Punjab: Trans-Border Smuggling Module Busted In Fazilka, 2 Held With 20-Kg Heroin

The arrested persons were identified as Subeg Singh, a resident of Lakhmir Ke Uttar village, and Sandip Singh alias Seepa of Mansa village in Fazilka, DGP Punjab Gaurav Yadav said.

Punjab Police foiled a trans-border smuggling bid in the Fazilka district.

Source : PTI

New Delhi: Punjab Police claimed to have foiled a trans-border drug smuggling attempt with the arrest of two drug smugglers after recovering 20 kilograms of heroin from their possession in the Fazilka district, officials said on Sunday.

The smugglers were identified as Subeg Singh, a resident of Lakhmir Ke Uttar village, and Sandip Singh alias Seepa of Mansa village in Fazilka, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav said.

In a major breakthrough against trans-border narcotic smuggling networks, SSOC #Fazilka recovered 20 Kg Heroin after arresting two persons.

Arrested persons picked up the drug consignment from Village Hasta Kalan which was air-dropped with the help of drones. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/j91lZWk0bZ

— DGP Punjab Police (@DGPPunjabPolice) July 23, 2023

According to Yadav, they received a tip-off that Pakistan-based smugglers would drop a large heroin consignment from across the border using drones and that the duo would come to collect it.

Acting on the information, teams of the state special operation cell (SSOC) carried out an extensive operation at Haste ke Road near Rano village, the DGP said.

Upon seeing the police team, the duo tried to flee on their motorbike but the police apprehended them following a brief scuffle, he added.

Ten packets of heroin, weighing 20 kg, were recovered from the accused, the police said.

Fazilka Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Lakbhir Singh said further investigation is underway to find out if other people were involved in this drug supply chain, adding that more arrests are expected.

A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, the AIG said. 

In a similar incident, last month, the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel shot down a Pakistani drone carrying narcotics across the Attari-Wagah border. The drone which was shot down was carrying approximately 3.2 kgs of heroin.

According to officials, the Pakistani drone, which violated Indian airspace, was intercepted and shot down by alert BSF personnel in Amritsar.

"The gross weight of the recovered consignment of suspected narcotics is approximately 3.2 kg," the officials said in a statement.