Amritsar: The Counter Intelligence wing of Amritsar dismantled two separate cross-border narcotics smuggling rings on Monday, resulting in the arrest of three cartel operatives and the seizure of 13 kilograms of high-grade heroin. Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav confirmed the development, noting that state intelligence units also impounded a luxury sedan with Uttar Pradesh registration markers used by the syndicate to ferry commercial drug shipments across regional state boundaries.
Law enforcement officials identified the primary captured suspect as Akashdeep Singh, a native of Khemkaran in Tarn Taran district who was operating out of a rented safehouse in the Kherabad area of Amritsar. Acting on actionable human intelligence regarding a massive narcotic consignment drop, a tactical team from CI Amritsar executed a coordinated raid at Singh’s temporary residence, yielding the recovery of eight kilograms of hidden heroin. Preliminary interrogations indicate that the suspect functioned as a central regional distributor responsible for storing and breaking down bulk consignments for local street-level peddlers.
In a secondary interdiction operation launched along the Amritsar-Chhabal Grand Trunk Road, intelligence operatives intercepted a Hyundai Verna sedan registered under the number UP-14-DL-0324. A detailed vehicle search led to the recovery of five kilograms of concealed heroin and the immediate arrest of two trans-district couriers identified as Mangal Singh and Baljit Singh, both residents of Bhodiwala village in Moga. The DGP noted that the duo specialized in transporting significant drug contraband across major transit corridors to supply various localized distribution hubs scattered throughout Punjab.
The State Special Operation Cell in Amritsar has formally registered two separate criminal cases to process the arrested individuals. Akashdeep Singh faces prosecution under sections 21 and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act via FIR number 42, while Mangal Singh and Baljit Singh have been booked under sections 21, 25, and 29 of the same penal framework via FIR number 43. Financial investigation teams are currently tracing the digital payment footprints and mobile records of the accused to map the broader international handlers steering the illicit trade.
