Punjab police, Border Forces make eighth major drug bust in 20 days

In yet another major blow to the Pakistan-controlled trans-border drug trafficking network, the Punjab Police in a joint operation with Border Security Force (BSF) arrested two Pakistani nationals and recovered 26 packets of heroin, weighing 29.2 kg from their possession, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav said on Monday.
Those arrested have been identified as Muhammad Ajmal Riyan from Kanganpur in Pakistan’s Punjab and Sivna of Alipur in district Kasur, Punjab, Pakistan. This is the eighth major heroin consignment recovered by the Punjab Police this month, taking the total recovery of heroin to 142 kg in 20 days
DGP Yadav said that in an intelligence-led operation, Counter Intelligence (CI) Ludhiana and Ferozepur along with BSF launched a joint operation in Ghazniwala in Ferozepur and arrested the two Pakistan nationals.
One suffered a bullet injury in his right arm after a brief exchange of fire with security forces; the injured was taken to Mamdot BSF Hospital for treatment Yadav said. Special DGP RN Dhoke said that the Internal Security wing has recovered 193 Kg of heroin since the beginning of this year.
AIG CI Ludhiana Simratpal Singh Dhindsa said that following reliable inputs about the influx of large quantities of heroin from across the border, the police arrested two drug smugglers and more arrests are expected.
AIG CI Fazilka Lakhbir Singh said an FIR had been registered under the NDPS Act, the Indian Passport Act and the Foreign Act. Investigations are on to establish backwards and forward linkages, he added.

EIGHTH MAJOR BUST IN 20 DAYS

•  August 3: Drug peddler Shinder Singh arrested with 6 kg heroin, Rs 1.5 lakh in drug money as SSOC Amritsar busts a cross-border smuggling racket.
• August 5: SSOC Amritsar recovers 4kg heroin concealed beneath the road in the village Bute Dian Chhana in Mehatpur
•  August 6: Counter Intelligence busts two separate cross-border smuggling rackets, arrests four traffickers, recovering 77.8 kg heroin and three pistols
•  August 10: Amritsar Rural Police arrests three smugglers, recovering 12 kg heroin and busting a cross-border racket in the process
•  August 11: Smuggler Harpal Singh alias Bhala from Lakhna in Tarn Taran arrested with 5 kg heroin as CI Amritsar busts a cross-border smuggling racket
•  August 17: Joga Singh, a smuggler from Rajapur, Ludhiana arrested with 8kg heroin