Drug shipment slips through ICP

Drugs came in "unchecked" into the country on Friday via a route opened for trade with Pakistan.

Drugs came in "unchecked" into the country on Friday via a route opened for trade with Pakistan.

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An Indian truck that brought in 2-kilogram heroin dodged scanning at Integrated Check Post (ICP) on the international border at Attari near here before the intelligence wing of the Bathinda police intercepted it. The three men on board also had two Pakistani SIM (subscriber's identity module) cards. Accused Gurtej Singh, Sahab Singh and Sukhdev Singh are under arrest.

"On Wednesday, the truck entered Pakistan to offload plastic material, and on Friday afternoon, we intercepted it loaded with heroin in the Gharinda area," said inspector general (intelligence) of police Jatinder Jain. "The drug was hidden in a cavity in front," he added. Asked if trucks going to Pakistan were checked on return as well, the IG said: "Only officials at the ICP can answer."

Confirming the haul, an official at the ICP said: "The truck had entered Pakistan on Thursday and came back the same evening. The driver was Gurtej Singh. Checking is thorough on return but we can't say how this consignment went unnoticed." Since there are no full-truck scanners, the checking at the ICP is manual. The equipment is unavailable in spite of continuous demand.

In the past, the Samjhauta Express train from Pakistani has brought heroin into the country. Friday's shipment was the first to be seized from a truck.