International drugs syndicate busted, 2 arrested with 1.5 kg heroin in Lalru
The police have busted an international drug trafficking syndicate, which used jackets to smuggle heroin into the state, and arrested two of its operatives, said Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav here on Friday.
They have also recovered three half-sleeve jackets that were stashed with 500 grams of heroin each from the possession of the accused.
The arrested accused were identified as Sukhdeep Singh (alias Raja), a resident of Bhana in Faridkot, and Krishan, a resident of Ajaib in Rohtak.
Apart from recovering 1.5-kg heroin, the police teams have also impounded a white car, which they were using on the pretence of a taxi to smuggle narcotics.
“Preliminary investigation has revealed that these drug consignments were bought from an Afghan national, who is based in Delhi,” the DGP said.
During the initial interrogation, the arrested accused disclosed that they had smuggled four consignments of heroin in connivance with Kotkapura-based drug smuggler, identified as Lakhwinder Singh, in the last two months. A recent consignmenet of 10-kg heroin was bought in mid-September and delivered in Moga.
Facing at least 10 cases registered under the NDPS Act, Lakhwinder is allegedly to be the key accused behind this module, and is said to be the one who was managing the entire drug network.
“Various police teams are on a manhunt to nab Lakhwinder. Besides, further investigations are underway to establish backward and forward linkages in this case,” the DGP said.
The police had received a reliable input that two members of a drug syndicate, in possession of heroin, were coming from Delhi towards Mohali in a white car. Acting swiftly, teams led by DSP Bikramjit Singh Brar laid a naka near the Dappar toll plaza in Lalru and successfully intercepted the vehicle, leading to the arrests and recovery of narcotics.
The DGP said Sukhdeep also had a criminal past, and a kidnapping case registered against him in 2020. After coming out on bail from the Faridkot jail in May 2024, he got involved in the illicit trade of heroin smuggling in July 2024.
The SSP said the arrested accused had also rented an accommodation in Sohana, SAS Nagar, to facilitate their drug smuggling operations.
A case under Sections 21 and 29 of the NDPS Act at the Lalru police station.
