Amritsar, 15 September (H.S.): Commissionerate Police Amritsar has dismantled three major drug and illegal arms supply networks with the arrest of eight individuals and recovered 9.549 kg heroin, 5.459 kg opium and one illegal .30-bore pistol from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Tuesday.

Those arrested have been identified as Rajinder Singh (27), a resident of Indira Colony in Amritsar; Vinay (26), a resident of Gawal Mandi in Amritsar; Pradeep Singh (37), a resident of village Varnali Harsha Chhina in Amritsar; Karan Singh alias Karan (24), Navneet alias Keeda (18) and Jashandeep Singh alias Dhuni (19), trio residents of village Attari in Amritsar; Baljinder Singh (37), a resident of Baba Budha Singh Colony in Amritsar; and Amrit Pal Singh alias Amrit (25), a resident of village Boparai Baaz Singh in Amritsar Rural.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigation has revealed that the accused were allegedly linked to foreign-based smugglers and were receiving consignments of heroin, opium and illegal arms through drones for further distribution. Police have also established links between the accused and other associates involved in the supply network, he said.

The DGP said that further investigation is underway to uncover the complete backward and forward linkages in this case to identify other persons involved and dismantle the wider drug and illegal arms trafficking network.

Sharing details of first operation, Commissioner of Police (CP) Amritsar Harmanbir Singh Gill said that acting on specific information, police arrested Rajinder Singh and one .30 bore pistol was recovered.

During interrogation, his associate Vinay was arrested, leading to the recovery of 4.2 kg opium, he said, while adding that on the disclosure of Vinay, another associate, Pradeep Singh, was arrested and 1.2kg more opium was recovered from his possession.

In another operation, the CP said that acting on secret information, police arrested Karan Singh alias Karan and recovered 7 kg heroin from his possession. During further investigation, his associates Navneet Singh alias Keeda and Jashandeep Singh ailasa Dhunni were also arrested, he said.

In third operation, CP Harmanbir Gill said that acting on specific information, police arrested Baljinder Singh and Amritpal Singh alias Amrit and recovered 2.5 kg heroin and one motorcycle from their possession. Further investigation is ongoing, he added.

In this regard, three cases at Police Station Cantonment; Police Station A-Division; and Police Station Chheharta in Amritsar have been registered.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH