Chandigarh, June 11 (IANS) Amritsar Commissionerate Police has dismantled a cross-border drug smuggling cartel by arresting six people, including two juveniles, said Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav here on Thursday.

The police have also recovered 30.045 kg of heroin from their possession

Those arrested have been identified as Gautam (24), Kabir, alias Kaku (22), Sameer, alias Sabarwal (18), Gurpreet Singh, alias Keeda (18), and two juveniles. Accused Kabir has a criminal background and was previously involved in a Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) case registered at the police station in Chheharta.

Apart from recovering the drug consignment, police teams have also recovered their motorcycle, which they were using for the smuggling of narcotics.

DGP Yadav said preliminary investigation has revealed that the accused were linked to a Dubai-based smuggler who was facilitating the supply of heroin consignments from across the border. Acting on his directions, the accused were retrieving the consignments from designated locations and further distributing them to various recipients across the state.

The DGP said further investigation is underway to identify other associates involved in the network and trace the financial trail to uncover possible hawala connections.

Sharing operational details, Commissioner of Police (Amritsar) Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said that acting on specific intelligence, police teams apprehended accused Gautam along with his two juvenile accomplices and recovered 30.045 kg heroin from their possession.

On the disclosure of accused Gautam, three more accused — Kabir, Sameer and Gurpreet Singh — were arrested, he said.

The Police Commissioner said that the probe has revealed that the Dubai-based smuggler is the mastermind of this drug trafficking module and has been wanted in three major NDPS cases, including the 42 kg heroin recovery case and the 10 kg ICE recovery case.

Operating from Dubai, he was luring young individuals, including juveniles, with monetary incentives and using them to retrieve, transport and distribute drug consignments on his behalf, Bhullar added.

–IANS

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