Punjab Police arrested an international drug trafficker, identified as Shehnaz Singh aka Shawn Bhinder, wanted by the FBI for his alleged role in the global narcotics syndicate.
Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav took to social media to announce the arrest of the notorious drug trafficker accused of smuggling cocaine from Columbia into the USA and Canada.
His associates—Amritpal Singh alias Amrit, Amritpal Singh alias Cheema, Takdir Singh alias Romy, Sarbsit Singh alias Sabi, and Fernando Valladares alias Franco—were arrested in the US on February 26. The authorities had also seized 391 kg methamphetamine, 109 kg cocaine and four firearms from their residences and vehicles.
Following the arrest of his associates, Shehnaz Singh fled to India where the police tracked him and apprehended him.
"This operation is a testament to Punjab Police's zero-tolerance approach to drug trafficking and organised crime. We remain committed to working with international law enforcement agencies to ensure that Punjab is not a safe haven for drug smugglers and criminals," the DGP said in his tweet.
The arrest comes amid the Punjab government's ongoing 'Yudh Nashian Virudh' (war against drugs) campaign, launched on February 25.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had recently chaired a meeting of senior officials as part of the state government's renewed push for its anti-drugs campaign, setting a deadline of three months to make Punjab drug-free.
