In a significant breakthrough in the ongoing anti-drug campaign ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh,’ the Punjab Police has arrested Shehnaz Singh alias Shawn Bhinder, an Indian-origin international drug lord wanted by the United State’s Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), from Ludhiana. The arrest marked a major success for the Punjab Government’s intensified efforts to dismantle drug cartels operating in and beyond India.
The state Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, confirming the arrest, said that Bhinder was one of the “most wanted fugitives” in an international narcotics syndicate responsible for smuggling large consignments of cocaine from Colombia into the USA and Canada.
A native of Mandiala village in Batala, Bhinder had been residing in Brampton, Canada, where he allegedly operated a vast network of drug traffickers under the guise of a transportation business. His network had deep links in Colombia, Mexico, the USA, and Canada, making him a key facilitator in transnational drug smuggling.
The fugitive came under the radar of the FBI after a massive drug bust on February 26, 2025, in which the US authorities arrested six of Bhinder’s associates and recovered 391 kg of methamphetamine, 109 kg of cocaine, four sophisticated firearms, and multiple vehicles used in drug transportation.
Those arrested in the US included Amritpal Singh alias Amrit alias Bal, Amritpal Singh alias Cheema, Taqdeer Singh alias Romi, Sarabjit Singh alias Saabi, Fernando Valladares alias Franco, and Gurlal Singh.
Following the FBI's crackdown, Bhinder managed to evade arrest and fled to India, slipping past international security agencies.
After fleeing to India, Bhinder remained underground and moved across multiple locations to evade detection. However, following intensive intelligence operations, Punjab Police tracked him down in Ludhiana and executed his arrest successfully.
DGP Yadav said that Bhinder had been under surveillance for weeks before Punjab Police finally cornered him. “Despite his attempts to conceal his identity and operate discreetly, our teams managed to trace and apprehend him,” said DGP Yadav.
Authorities have also linked Bhinder to an illegal arms racket. He was allegedly involved in an Arms Act case in December 2024, where five members of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria and Amritpal Batth gang were arrested. A large cache of weapons and ammunition was seized in that operation.
DIG Swapan Sharma, addressing the media, revealed that Bhinder had been operating a transportation company in Canada since 2014. Investigations suggested that he used trucks and trailers to smuggle cocaine from Colombia into the USA and Canada via Mexico. “We have evidence indicating that Bhinder’s network was transporting approximately 600 kg of cocaine every week, which generated hundreds of millions of dollars in illegal profits,” said DIG Sharma.
Tarn Taran Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Abhimanyu Rana said that Bhinder was closely associated with notorious traffickers, including Amritpal Singh alias Baath and Gurjant Singh Bholu Havelia. Investigators are now probing his financial transactions and potential links to other international drug cartels.
Authorities believed that Bhinder’s arrest will lead to further revelations about his network, potential money laundering channels, and deeper connections with drug mafias operating worldwide.
