The North News
Chandigarh, April 11
Punjab Police on Friday arrested a major drug trafficker and recovered over 18kg of heroin in a significant breakthrough under the state’s ongoing anti-narcotics campaign, Yuddh Nashe Viruddh. Hira Singh, also known as Hira, was apprehended by the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) Border Range in Amritsar. The suspect, a resident of Khaira village, was taken into custody while attempting to transport a heroin consignment on a motorcycle. Alongside the seizure of 18.227kg heroin, police also impounded his vehicle.
Sharing details, Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said preliminary investigations had linked Hira Singh and his associate, Kulwinder Singh alias Kinda from Dauke village, to a Pakistan-based trafficker identified as Billa. Police believe the drug consignments were being smuggled across the border via drones over the past year. “Efforts are underway to apprehend Kulwinder Singh, who is currently on the run,” Yadav said. “Further investigation is in progress to establish forward and backward linkages.”
ADGP ANTF Nilabh Kishore said the operation was launched following credible intelligence about the duo’s cross-border drug activity. “Twelve packets of heroin, each weighing around 1.5kg, were recovered during the raid,” he said, adding that interrogation of the arrested suspect would help trace the broader network.
A case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has been registered at ANTF Police Station, SAS Nagar.
