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77kg heroin seized, four arrested in Punjab: Police
The Punjab Police have recovered 77.8kg of heroin and arrested four smugglers in two cross-border drug trafficking busts in the past 24 hours.
The Punjab Police have recovered 77.8kg of heroin, in one of the largest seizures of the opioid drug this year, as they busted two cross-border drug trafficking rackets in the past 24 hours, with the arrest of four smugglers, officers familiar with the matter said on Sunday.
Three pistols were also recovered from the accused during the intelligence-led operations by the counter intelligence unit of Ferozepur district, the officers added.
In the first incident, according to Ferozepur counter intelligence unit’s assistant inspector general (AIG) Lakhbir Singh, following inputs about influx of large quantity of heroin, a team from the unit set up a check post near Megha Palla village in the border district, on Saturday evening and arrested two drug smugglers.
“The team recovered 41.8 kg of heroin, two 9mm pistols along with four magazines, and a .30 bore Zigana pistol with two magazines. At least 115 cartridges were also seized from their possession,” AIG Singh said further.
“Two accused were identified as Gagga Gill aka Gagan (23) of village Bare Ke in Ferozepur and Veer Singh alias Veeru (37) of Muhar Sona village in Fazilka.”
Giving details about the second incident, the AIG said, “On Sunday morning, a police team arrested two more people with 36kg heroin. The accused were identified as Jaspinder Singh aka Bhinda (30) and Jagdeep Singh alias Bhuchar (23), both from village Deep Singh Wala in Faridkot district.”
All the accused were arrested from Megha Palla village in Ferozepur, the AIG said. “Two cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and the Arms Act have been registered at State Special Operation Cell, Fazilka. In both the incidents, the accused were nabbed on the spot while smuggling contraband,” Singh added.
“Further investigation are on and more arrests are expected in the coming days,”the AIG added further.
Meanwhile, Punjab director general of police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said that the seizures of heroin in the past 24 hours are one of the biggest recoveries of the opioid drug in 2023.
“In one of the biggest heroin seizures of 2023: In two separate intelligence-led operations, Counter Intelligence, Ferozepur has apprehended 4 drug traffickers and recovered 77Kg heroin (41Kg+36Kg) and three pistols,” the DGP posted on X, (formally Twitter).