Amritsar, 19 September (H.S.): Counter Intelligence (CI) Amritsar has busted another cross-border narcotics smuggling module with the arrest of three key operatives and recovered 17 kg of heroin from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Saturday.

Those arrested have been identified as Prince, Malkit Singh, and Rajinder Singh, all residents of Kot Mit Singh, Khalsa Nagar plot in Amritsar. Apart from recovering 17 kg heroin, police teams have also impounded a silver Maruti Swift car used for transporting the illicit contraband.

With this latest seizure, CI Amritsar has successfully pushed the total recovery of heroin to 54 kg in just four days, having previously recovered 27 kg and 10 kg heroin consignments.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigation has revealed that the arrested accused are allegedly operating in coordination with cross-border smugglers and receiving heroin consignments for further supply.

Sharing operational details, he said that CI Amritsar teams had received specific input that three operatives of cross-border smuggling module has received a drone-dropped consignment and they are expected to strike a major drug deal beneath the flyover on the Amritsar-Tarn Taran road.

Acting promptly on the input, police teams established a strategic checkpoint and intercepted their Swift car near the park near flyover, he said, while adding that during the search, 17 kg heroin was recovered from their possession.

The DGP said that further investigation is underway to establish the complete forward and backward linkages in this case to identify other persons involved and dismantle the wider cross-border narcotics smuggling network. In this regard, a case has been registered at Police Station State Special Operation Cell (SSOC), Amritsar.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH