Chandigarh, Nov 6 (PTI) A cross-border narcotics smuggling network has been busted in Punjab with the detention of four people, including a juvenile, and the recovery of 36 kg of heroin, police said on Friday.

     "In a major breakthrough, Counter Intelligence Amritsar busts a cross-border narcotics smuggling network, apprehended four accused, including one juvenile, and recovered 36 kg of heroin," Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said in a post on X.

     According to the preliminary investigation, the accused were allegedly acting on the instructions of a foreign-based handler, receiving heroin consignments near the India-Pakistan border in the Lopoke area and supplying them to other parties, the DGP said.

     Those arrested have been identified as Sahil Singh, a resident of Ghanupur in Amritsar; Paramjeet Singh and Kamalpal Singh, both residents of Rajasansi, Amritsar; and a juvenile.

     Paramjeet Singh has a criminal background and has been facing three cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, an official statement said.

     Apart from recovering a massive haul of heroin, police teams have also impounded two motorcycles used in the logistical movement of the narcotics consignment.

     Sharing operational details, DGP Yadav said that CI Amritsar had received specific intelligence that the four associates of a foreign-based handler had retrieved a huge consignment of drone-smuggled heroin from the Lopoke border area and were expected to hand over the contraband to another party somewhere on the Amritsar-Lopoke Road.

     Acting swiftly, police teams conducted a raid and intercepted Sahil Singh, Paramjeet Singh, Kamalpal Singh, and the juvenile near the Bharatmala Highway bridge and recovered 36 kg of heroin, along with the impounding of their two motorcycles, which they were riding, he said.

     The DGP further informed that an FIR has been registered at the State Special Operation Cell Police Station in Amritsar. Further investigation is underway to uncover the complete network and its backward and forward linkages, he added.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)
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