The North News
Chandigarh, March 24
Punjab Police’s Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), in coordination with central agencies, has made a significant breakthrough in its anti-drugs campaign, ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh,’ arresting 11 individuals linked to a vast narco-terrorism hawala network. The operation led to the recovery of Rs 5.09 crore in illicit drug money in multiple foreign currencies, Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said on Monday.
The arrested individuals include five drug smugglers, three hawala money couriers, and three hawala traders. Among them are Harjinder Singh, Harmanjit Singh, Sagar, Lavdeep Singh, and Harbhaj Singh. The hawala couriers were identified as Saurav Mahajan, Tanush, and Harminder Singh, while the arrested traders include Ashok Kumar Sharma, owner of Sharma Forex Money Changer in Phagwara, along with Rajesh Kumar and Amit Bansal.
The arrests followed a two-month investigation that began with the capture of Harjinder Singh and Harmanjit Singh in January 2025. The police recovered 263 grams of heroin and Rs 5.60 lakh in drug money from them, leading to a broader probe. Further investigations revealed that Harbhaj Singh, an inmate in Central Jail Amritsar, masterminded the racket in collaboration with Pakistani drug smuggler Shehbaz.
Shehbaz, previously arrested in 2021 for illegally entering India, was lodged in the same jail before his deportation to Pakistan. The Police discovered that, upon release, he maintained contact with his former cellmates, using mobile phones to orchestrate drug smuggling operations. The network also laundered drug money through Sharma Forex Money Exchanger, with deposits made under Shehbaz’s instructions.
Raids linked to the case led to the seizure of Rs 1.45 crore in Indian currency, significant sums in Euros, US dollars, Canadian dollars, British pounds, and UAE dirhams, as well as 372 grams of gold. Additionally, police impounded four luxury vehicles, including a BMW and a Mahindra Thar. Investigators have also identified illicit properties worth hundreds of crores, with moves underway to seize them under anti-drug laws.
The crackdown is part of Punjab’s broader effort to curb drug-related crime. Since March 1, police have arrested 3,868 alleged drug smugglers and seized over 135kg of heroin, 82.9kg of opium, 1,419kg of poppy husk, and Rs 5.42 crore in drug-related funds.
