In a major crackdown, the Chandigarh Police have arrested six people linked to an international drug syndicate operating across Tricity, Punjab, and Pakistan.
The team seized 654 grams of heroin worth about Rs 1 crore and 112 grams of cocaine valued between Rs 10-15 lakh. The case began after an FIR was registered under the NDPS Act on August 5.
The breakthrough came when ASI Naseeb Singh caught Pooja, daughter of a known peddler named Bala, in Sector 38, Chandigarh, with 54 grams of cocaine. During interrogation, she revealed details that exposed a wider smuggling chain connecting local suppliers to handlers based in Pakistan.
Raids carried out later led to the arrest of Sameer and Mohd. Juned from Chandigarh, and Nihal, Amritpal, and Sahibjeet Singh from Amritsar. The police said Amritpal, Sahibjeet, and Juned were in touch with a Pakistan-based drug handler, Zubair Rana.
Network and modus operandi
Investigations showed that Pooja sourced drugs from Sameer, who was connected to Juned of Sector 25. Juned got his supply from Nihal Singh, Sahibjeet Singh alias Sabhu, and Amritpal Singh alias Gopi, all from Amritsar. These three had direct links with Zubair Rana, a handler in Lahore. Rana arranged drug deliveries across the border through drones. Another contact, Yugraj from Amritsar, who was recently arrested by the Punjab Police with 500 grams of heroin, was also part of this network. The police said Rana was trying to expand his network further into India.
Accused profiles and recoveries
- Pooja (Chandigarh): 54 grams of cocaine and a scooter recovered. In judicial custody.
- Sameer (Chandigarh): 58.22 grams of cocaine and 9.43 grams of heroin seized. In judicial custody.
- Mohd. Juned (Chandigarh): 45.90 grams of heroin seized. In judicial custody.
- Nihal Singh (Amritsar): 36.04 grams of heroin recovered. Has past NDPS cases. In judicial custody.
- Sahibjeet Singh alias Sabhu (Amritsar): 23 grams of heroin seized. Earlier arrested in drug cases in Tricity. Currently in police custody.
- Amritpal Singh alias Gopi (Amritsar): 538 grams of heroin seized. Described as the kingpin, with several past NDPS cases. The police said he managed drone-based cross-border drops and worked with couriers to move the drugs.
The police said this was a big step in breaking an international supply chain that linked Chandigarh, Punjab, and Pakistan. “The operation has exposed strong cross-border links and the use of sophisticated methods such as drone drops for narcotics,” a spokesperson said.
All six accused have been booked under the NDPS Act. Four are in judicial custody, while two remain in police custody for further questioning. More arrests are expected as the probe continues.
The operation was carried out under the guidance of SP-Crime Jasbir Singh, with monitoring by DSP Dhiraj Kumar and Inspector Satvinder, SHO of Sector 11 Police Station. The police said the action was part of a larger campaign to break drug networks and stop cross-border trafficking.
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