Gurdaspur: Police have arrested a 20-year-old man and recovered 2.184 kg of heroin along with an illegal pistol and ammunition during a search operation in the border belt of Dinanagar, officials said.
The operation was carried out jointly by the Gurdaspur Special Branch and the Behrampur police as part of the ongoing crackdown on drug trafficking and cross-border smuggling in Punjab.
The accused has been identified as Nishan Singh, alias Sonu, a resident of Malukchak village. According to police, the heroin was packed in four separate packets. The seized contraband is estimated to be worth crores of rupees in the international market.
Along with the narcotics, officers recovered a .30-bore Beretta pistol and four live cartridges from the accused.
One suspect escapes
According to SSP Aditya, police personnel were conducting patrols in the Dinanagar border area when they noticed two young men moving suspiciously on foot.
The two allegedly tried to run away after spotting the police team. One of them managed to disappear into the nearby fields, while the police surrounded the area and caught Nishan Singh.
The operation was conducted under the supervision of Dinanagar DSP Rajinder Singh Manhas.
Heroin allegedly brought through drone
During preliminary questioning, police reportedly learned that the seized drugs and weapon had been obtained from smugglers operating from Pakistan. The consignment was allegedly delivered across the border using a drone.
The information has prompted security agencies to examine the possible cross-border links involved in the case. Investigators are also trying to establish the identity of the person who was supposed to receive the consignment.
Probe to focus on wider network
A case has been registered at Behrampur police station under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Arms Act.
Police teams are conducting searches to trace the second suspect who escaped from the spot. Nishan Singh is also expected to be produced before a court, where investigators will seek his custody for further questioning.
The probe will focus on identifying both the source and intended recipient of the consignment, besides establishing the accused’s links with other members of the alleged cross-border smuggling network.
