Faridkot , 20 September (H.S.): Faridkot Police has busted a cross-border heroin smuggling network with the arrest of four operatives and recovered 47.3 kg heroin, three .30 bore pistols along with three magazines and 15 live cartridges from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Sunday.

Those arrested have been identified as Ankush, a resident of Ghubaya in Ferozepur; Mangal Singh, a resident of Panje Ke Utar in Ferozepur; Sachin alias Sanju, a resident of Parbhat Singh Wala in Ferozepur; and Anmol Singh, a resident of Lamochar Khurd in Ferozepur. Apart from recovering big haul of heroin, police teams have also impounded their two a Honda City and a Hyundai Aura used in the smuggling operations.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigation has revealed that the arrested accused are linked to a network involved in cross-border smuggling of heroin and illegal arms into the state. Further investigation is underway to uncover the wider network and establish its forward and backward linkages, he said.

Sharing operational details, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gurbans Singh Bains said that during special nakabandi laid in view of the forthcoming Baba Farid Agman Purab festival, a team from CIA Faridkot intercepted a Honda City car on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday. The police team apprehended the four occupants and, upon conducting a search, seized the massive consignment of 47.3 kg of heroin along with the illegal weapons and ammunition, he said.

The SSP said that probe has also revealed that the gang was receiving consignments of heroin and weapons dropped via drones from across the border in the border areas of Fazilka and Ferozepur districts for further distribution in the state. Further investigation is ongoing, he added. In this regard, a case has been registered at Police Station Sadiq in Faridkot.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH