Drug smuggler under preventive detention

The Anti-Narcotic Task Force (ANTF) of the Punjab Police has executed the orders of preventive detention of another top drug smuggler, identified as Gurdeep Singh, alias Raano Sarpanch, a resident of village Raano in Ludhiana, using special provisions under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotics Drugs Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act.

In a media statement here on Tuesday, Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said this was the second such case of preventive detention in which orders were issued by the competent authority under Section 3 of the PIT-NDPS Act.

Second such case

Section 3 of the PIT-NDPS Act empowers the government to take such drug smugglers into preventive custody to stop them from engaging in illicit traffic of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

The first such detention by the Punjab Police was of a notorious drug smuggler, Avtar Singh, alias Tari, of border village Shahur Kalan in Gurdaspur district for two years using special provisions under the PIT-NDPS Act.

DGP Yadav said during investigation, it was found that Gurdeep had links with international smugglers, namely Harminder Singh, alias Rommy Randhawa, Rajan Sharma, Tanvir Bedi and Baljit Singh, alias Babbu Khera. His assets worth Rs 7.80 crore, acquired through illicit means, had been frozen by the competent authority, the DGP added.

He said Gurdeep Singh was a repeat offender with seven cases registered against him under the NDPS Act. He was involved in trans-border drug smuggling networks.

As per the information, the STF Ludhiana Range had registered a case against Gurdeep and other co-accused under the NDPS Act in October 2020 and recovered 31.418 kg of heroin, 6 kg of amphetamine, 2 kg of chemical powder and five luxury vehicles. Another case was registered against him in November 2020 when there was a recovery of 5.7 kg of heroin, 400 gm of opium, three pistols, a revolver, two rifles, 12 luxury cars and Rs 50.24 lakh drug money.

The DGP said Gurdeep was detained under the PIT-NDPS Act for one year and shifted from the Central Jail, Kapurthala, to the Central Jail, Bathinda, for strict monitoring.