Amritsar, July 27 — In a sweeping crackdown on drug trafficking, Amritsar police have seized over 11 kilograms of heroin in three separate operations within the last 24 hours, arresting nine suspects including a juvenile. The seizures point to a well-networked cross-border smuggling nexus with direct links to Pakistan.
Of the total haul, 6.1 kg was recovered by the Amritsar city police commissionerate, while 4 kg was seized by the state’s counter-intelligence wing. The rural police also arrested one trafficker with 1 kg heroin in possession. Two FIRs have been registered in connection with the operations.
“In a major strike against cross-border narco-smuggling, the Commissionerate Police, Amritsar, bust a well-organised heroin trafficking cartel with direct links to Pakistan-based smugglers,” Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav posted on X.
Police said the Chheharta station team apprehended Sarbjit Singh, alias Joban, of Dhanoe village, along with a juvenile, after recovering 1 kg heroin. During interrogation, two more traffickers—Dharam Singh alias Happy and Kulbir Singh alias Gurdip, both residents of Ajnala—were arrested with over 5 kg of heroin.
Preliminary findings revealed Sarbjit was previously booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and had direct involvement in trans-border narcotics peddling. “He was found to have received multiple consignments of drugs and weapons from various parts of the border belt. Their interrogation may lead to more recoveries,” Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said.
Sources said Sarbjit had earlier entered the US through illegal channels via the ‘dunki route’ but was deported. Upon return, he rented houses and used them as stash points for narcotics storage.
Two motorcycles were also recovered during the operation. Police added that Dharam Singh was already facing a case under the Arms Act.
In a separate action, the counter-intelligence wing intercepted a major consignment of 4 kg heroin at Attari, arresting four smugglers from Kathania village—Ranjit Singh, Karan Masih, Manpreet Singh, and Ajaypal Singh. A fifth accused, Pakistani smuggler Shah, has also been booked.
Based on a tip-off, authorities learned that Ranjit and Masih had retrieved a drone-dropped consignment from Pakistan and planned to deliver it to Manpreet and Ajaypal at a local bus stop. A swift raid led to their arrest and seizure of the heroin, along with their mobile phones.
Police said further interrogations are underway and more arrests and recoveries are likely.
