Punjab Police on Friday claimed to have busted a cross-border narcotics smuggling network with the apprehension of four people, including a juvenile, and the seizure of 36 kg of heroin in Amritsar.
The operation was carried out by the Counter Intelligence wing in Amritsar, which uncovered an alleged drug trafficking network operating near the India-Pakistan border.
Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav announced the development in a post on X.
"In a major breakthrough, Counter Intelligence Amritsar busts a cross-border narcotics smuggling network, apprehended four accused, including one juvenile, and recovered 36 Kg heroin," Yadav said.
๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ด๐ป-๐ฏ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐น๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ
According to the preliminary investigation, the accused were allegedly operating on the instructions of a handler based outside India.
Police said the suspects received heroin consignments near the international border in the Lopoke area of Amritsar district and subsequently supplied the narcotics to other parties.
Investigators are examining the role of the foreign-based handler and attempting to establish how the consignments were being received and distributed.
The recovery of 36 kg of heroin is being treated as a significant seizure in the ongoing crackdown on cross-border drug trafficking.
๐ฃ๐ผ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฝ๐ฝ๐น๐ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป
An FIR has been registered at the State Special Operation Cell Police Station in Amritsar in connection with the case.
The DGP said further investigation was underway to uncover the entire network and identify its backward and forward linkages.
Police are seeking to establish the source of the seized heroin, the identities of other individuals involved and the intended recipients of the consignments.
Officials said the investigation would focus on tracing the network's operations and determining the roles of those involved in the alleged cross-border smuggling activities.