Pak-backed drug cartel busted, 4.8 kg heroin recovered; 2 women, army man and sacked cop among 6 held

Bathinda: Faridkot police on Sunday claimed to have busted a Pakistan-backed drug cartel by arresting six smugglers, including two women, and recovered 4.804 kg heroin and a weapon from their possession.The arrested accused also included an Army personnel and a dismissed policeman.Those arrested were identified as Amardeep Singh alias Boxer and Dimple Rani, both from Ferozepur district; Ramanadeep Kaur, Sarabjit Singh alias Sabba and Amritpal Singh alias Abhijot, residents of Moga district; and Jarnail Singh alias Goldy, who belongs to Ludhiana district.The police party also recovered 4.804 kilograms of heroin, Rs 30,000 drug money, one .30 bore pistol along with three live cartridges from their possession. In addition, a Thar and an XUV-500 vehicle being used for drug trafficking were also taken into police custody.Faridkot senior superintendent of police Pragya Jain said the Faridkot police team, on suspicion, intercepted a Thar parked along the road leading to the Green Avenue area in the town on the intervening night of Feb 20 and 21, and during its search, conducted under the supervision of Faridkot DSP Tarlochan Singh, 1.08 kg of heroin and Rs 30,000 drug money were recovered from a kit bag placed near the copilot's seat.The SSP said four persons present in the vehicle were arrested on the spot.During interrogation, it was revealed that the consignment was supplied by Amardeep Singh alias Boxer in his XUV-500 vehicle in exchange for Rs 2.60 lakh. Subsequently, he was nominated in the case and later arrested near village Goleana along with Dimple Rani. Further search led to the recovery of 3.796 kg heroin kept in five packets, one .30 bore pistol and three live cartridges.Preliminary investigation indicated that the accused were operating a drug trafficking network in collaboration with Pakistan-based handlers who were sending heroin consignments into the Indian territory via drones. The arrested persons were further supplying the contraband to other traffickers, said the SSP.Further investigation is underway to identify other associates linked to the Pakistan-based handlers. The criminal record verification revealed that the main accused, Amardeep Singh alias Boxer, already has nine cases registered against him, while other members of the gang also have prior NDPS and Arms Act cases registered against them, Jain added.Amardeep Singh alias Boxer is a dismissed employee of the PAP cadre, while his associate Jarnail Singh alias Goldy is presently serving in the Army, said the SSP.An FIR has been registered against the accused at police station City Faridkot under Sections 21(c) and 27A of the NDPS Act, said the police.MSID:: 128675781 413 |