12.5 kg heroin seized from Army deserter

The Counter Intelligence, Jalandhar, has arrested an Army deserter and seized 12.5 kg heroin from his possession.

Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said the accused had been identified as Amritpal Singh, alias Fauji, a resident of Kasel village in Tarn Taran.

The DGP said Fauji had been on the run since August after his accomplice, Sartaj, was nabbed from the Jammu bus stand with 33 kg heroin. A case was registered under Sections 21 and 29 of the NDPS Act.

Yadav added that the drug cartel was being operated from Dubai by Amrit Pal Singh Baath of Mianpur village in Tarn Taran. Baath has around 20 cases registered against him, including two murder cases.

Acting swiftly on reliable inputs, the Counter Intelligence teams laid a naka at Kangniwal village in Jalandhar and arrested Fauji after recovering 200 gm heroin from him, said Yadav, adding that his interrogation resulted in seizure of 12.4 kg heroin from Tarn Taran. Cops also impounded a motorcycle on which Fauji was travelling, he said.

AIG (Counter Intelligence) Navjot Singh Mahal said during questioning, the accused revealed that he and his associate had procured 50 kg heroin from Akhnoor sector last month. Of this, 33 kg contraband was with Sartaj, he stated.

Following the arrest of Sartaj, Fauji concealed the remaining heroin at an abandoned location in Tarn Taran, said Mahal.