In a major breakthrough, the Punjab Police’s Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) on Friday apprehended a key drug trafficker and recovered a massive consignment of 18.2 kg heroin from his possession. The arrested smuggler has been identified as Hira Singh alias Hira, a resident of Khaira village in Amritsar.
Acting on a credible tip-off, ANTF’s border range team, led by SP Gurpreet Singh, caught Hira red-handed as he was about to deliver the narcotics on his HF Deluxe motorcycle. A total of 12 packets of heroin, each weighing 1.5 kg, were recovered from him, totaling 18.227 kg.
The state Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav revealed that Hira Singh and his absconding associate Kulwinder Singh alias Kinda of Dauke village were part of a larger trans-border drug syndicate with direct links to a Pakistan-based smuggler identified as Billa. For over a year, this syndicate had been using drones to drop heroin consignments across the international border into Indian territory.
A manhunt is currently underway to nab Kulwinder Singh, while efforts are also being intensified to identify the forward and backward linkages of the network. “This operation is a big jolt to the cross-border smuggling racket. Our forces are working tirelessly to eradicate drugs from the state,” said DGP Yadav.
Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) ANTF, Nilabh Kishore, emphasized that the interrogation of the arrested accused would be crucial in unraveling the deeper nexus and breaking the heroin supply chain. “More arrests are likely as we dig deeper into this cross-border conspiracy,” he said.
An FIR, dated April 10, 2025, has been registered under sections 21-C, 25, and 29 of the NDPS Act at Police Station ANTF, SAS Nagar.
