Chandigarh, March 13: A high-profile fugitive wanted for cross-border drug smuggling and a 2024 triple murder has been taken into custody by the Punjab Police. Bhuvnesh Chopra, also known as Ashish, was arrested at the Delhi airport after being deported from Central Asia, marking a successful operation by the state’s Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell (OFTEC).
DGP Gaurav Yadav affirmed that the arrest followed a lengthy period of international coordination intended to track Chopra’s movements. The accused had managed to escape abroad to evade arrest in connection with nine separate criminal cases registered in Ferozepur, Fazilka, and Patiala.
The DGP declared that Chopra was a central figure in the smuggling of narcotics from Pakistan into Punjab. He stated that the suspect’s capture would likely dismantle the logistics chains used for drug shipments in Ferozepur and neighboring border areas.
In addition to his alleged involvement in the drug trade, Chopra was named as the lead conspirator in a violent incident in August 2024. Authorities maintained that a rivalry between Chopra and an individual named Dildeep Singh resulted in a triple murder that killed three people, including a young girl.
The establishment of OFTEC, ordered by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, was cited as a key factor in securing the deportation. The DGP asserted that the use of Red Corner Notices and Look-Out Circulars ensured the suspect remained on the radar of international law enforcement until his eventual return to India.
