Cross-border drug, weapon smuggling module busted; 2 porters among 8 held

Busting a trans-border drug trafficking module, the CIA staff of the Amritsar rural police today arrested eight persons, including two porters working at the Attari Integrated Check Post and notorious criminal Jagroop Singh, alias Jupa, of Chananke village. Jagroop is associated with foreign-based gangster Pavitar Chaura.

The suspects were staying as paying guests in Kabir Park area near Guru Nanak Dev University here. They were using that place as storage and transit point for supplying drugs.

Apart from Jagroop Singh, the police have arrested Karandeep Singh of Jalal Usma village, Gursewak Singh, alias Sandhu Majhail, of Mehsampur Khurd village, Nishan Singh of Dhianpur Baba Bakala, Varinder Singh of Wadala Khurd, Lovepreet Singh of Masid Wali Gali Attari, Lovepreet Singh of Ram Bani Mandir Darzi Wali Gali Attari and Jugraj Singh of Mehsampurkhurd.

He police seized from their possession 4.5 kg heroin, six weapons, including two Glock pistols and a .30 bore Zigana pistol, 14 live 9 mm bullets among 16 rounds, Rs 1.5 lakh drug money, a car, a bike, three weighing machines and 10 mobile phones. The estimated value of the seized heroin in the international market is around Rs 23 crore.

Amritsar Rural SSP Charanjit Singh Sohal said the gang used to retrieve contraband and weapons smuggled via drones along the International Border and later stored those at their PG accommodation. From there, they used to supply drugs in various parts of the city.

“They have created special cavities in the PG accommodation for hiding contraband and weapons retrieved from the International Border. Initially, the police intercepted Lovpreet Singh and seized two pistols from his possession. His interrogation led the police to the PG accommodation where it nabbed Jagroop Singh, Karanjit Singh and Gursewak Singh,” said the SSP.

Police teams led by DSP(D) Gurinderpal Singh Nagra and CIA incharge Manmeetpal Singh carried out the entire operation. Gursewak was also wanted by the police in connection with a firing incident that occurred in Mehta area.

Jagroop reportedly has over 11 cases registered against him, while Karandeep Singh faces two FIRs and Varinder Singh one.

Jagroop was earlier nabbed by the rural police in May this year. He is allegedly a close aide of US-based gangsters Pavitar Chaura and Husandeep Singh. The police had confiscated two pistols and 10 bullets from him at that time. He was currently on bail in that case. Sources said Chaura also had close association with Babbar Khalsa member Lakhbir Singh Landa.