Inter-state drug network busted, 2 held with 102 kg poppy husk

In a major breakthrough against drug trafficking, the Jalandhar Rural Police have busted an inter-state poppy husk smuggling network and arrested two after recovering 102 kg of poppy husk being transported in a specially modified truck, said SSP, Jalandhar Rural, Harkamal Preet Singh Khakh here on Monday.

Police teams also impounded a truck (HP-12-D-8481) with a specially designed hidden compartment under the floor being used to transport the contraband.

Khakh said following specific intelligence inputs regarding the movement of a large consignment of poppy husk, special teams were constituted under the supervision SP, Investigation, Jasroop Kaur Bath and DSP, Shahkot, Onkar Singh Brar.

Acting swiftly, the police team intercepted the truck at T-point on the Moga-Jalandhar highway.

Those arrested have been identified as Harpreet Singh, alias Happy, of Kathunangal, Amritsar Rural, and Varinder Singh, alias Raju, of Thatta Nawan, Talwandi Chaudrian, Kapurthala, he said, adding that two more accused Sonu of Daulewala, Kot Ise Khan, Moga, and Karan of Saichan, Sultanpur Lodhi, Kapurthala, are absconding.

The SSP said preliminary investigations had revealed the syndicate’s complex inter-state operations, with key figures operating from Kapurthala and Goindwal. “We will seek production warrants for the accused lodged in these jails and after bringing them on police remand, their arrest will also be made to unearth the entire network,” he added.

He said the investigation had also revealed that the gang was purchasing poppy husk at lower rates from outside the state and selling it at inflated prices in Punjab, making huge profits from this illegal trade.

“More arrests are likely to be made in the coming days as our teams are conducting raids to nab the absconding accused,” said SSP Khakh.

The case has been registered under Sections 15-61-85 of the NDPS Act at Shahkot.