Punjab Police and Central Agency Bust Major Drug Trafficking Syndicate; 10 Arrested
In a significant crackdown on drug trafficking, Punjab Police’s Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), in collaboration with a central agency, has dismantled a major drug syndicate operating across the state. The operation resulted in the arrest of ten individuals, marking a major step in the state’s ongoing war against the narcotics trade. Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav made the announcement in Chandigarh on Saturday.
The arrested individuals, identified as Chandan Sharma, Akash Sharma, Vishal Singh, Arvinder Singh, Lovepreet Singh, Rinku Thapar, Bharat, Divyam, Pratham, and Ankush Bhatti, were caught in a series of coordinated raids conducted in multiple locations, including Jalandhar, Amritsar, and Ludhiana. The police seized a considerable amount of illegal substances and weapons from their possession, including 1 kilogram of heroin, 381 grams of charas (hashish), three pistols—one of which was a sophisticated Glock pistol—along with 62 live cartridges and two empty shells. Authorities also confiscated ₹48.7 lakh in drug-related money, 262 grams of gold, and various electronic devices linked to the syndicate’s operations.
According to DGP Yadav, the arrested individuals were key players in an extensive drug trafficking network. The probe revealed that these criminals had been smuggling drugs across the India-Pakistan border, and the money generated from these illicit activities was being funneled back to Pakistan-based drug lords through Hawala channels, a method notorious for enabling illegal financial transactions across borders.
This operation involved both advanced technological surveillance and traditional human intelligence. The ANTF’s approach demonstrates the state’s commitment to employing strategic measures for tackling increasingly complex and sophisticated criminal networks. DGP Yadav emphasized that further investigations are underway to uncover additional layers of the syndicate, and additional arrests could follow as the probe continues.
Punjab, which has long struggled with issues related to drug abuse, has seen increased efforts by law enforcement in recent years to curb drug trafficking. The government, along with police agencies, is pushing for stricter enforcement and broader coordination between central and state-level bodies to deal with the transnational drug trade that has affected both the local economy and the health of its citizens.
The DGP commended the efforts of the joint team for executing a meticulously planned and coordinated series of raids that led to the arrests. This operation, he said, highlights the ongoing success of Punjab Police in disrupting criminal drug operations and marks another step toward a drug-free state.
The ten accused are currently in custody, and preliminary investigations suggest that they were part of a larger network with deep ties to international drug syndicates. The seized heroin, charas, weapons, and money point to a highly organized operation that involved multiple players across different regions. Authorities are now examining financial records and communication links to further trace the supply chain and ensure that the individuals responsible for funding and facilitating these crimes are brought to justice.