Three arrested with 13 kg heroin in Punjab

Chandigarh, Jul 6 (PTI) Punjab Police's Counter Intelligence unit in Amritsar has busted two alleged narcotics smuggling networks and arrested three persons with 13 kg of heroin in separate operations, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said on Monday. The arrested accused were identified as Akashdeep Singh, a native of Khemkaran in Tarn Taran who was currently residing at Kherabad in Amritsar, and Mangal Singh and Baljit Singh, both residents of Bhodiwala village in Moga district. Police also impounded a car allegedly used for transporting narcotics. According to the DGP, preliminary investigation revealed that the accused were allegedly involved in collecting heroin consignments from different locations and supplying them to various parties across Punjab. In the first operation, Counter Intelligence Amritsar received specific information that Akashdeep Singh had received a large consignment of heroin. Acting on the input, police raided his residence at Kherabad in Amritsar and allegedly recovered 8 kg of heroin. In a separate operation, police received information that two suspected drug smugglers were transporting a heroin consignment in a car. A police team set up a checkpoint on the Amritsar-Chabal GT Road and intercepted the vehicle. During the search, 5 kg of heroin was allegedly recovered from the car, leading to the arrest of Mangal Singh and Baljit Singh. Yadav said further investigation was underway to establish the backward and forward linkages of both networks, identify other associates and trace the entire supply chain. Two separate FIRs have been registered at the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) police station in Amritsar under sections of the NDPS Act. PTI VSD NB NB