23 kg heroin seized in Punjab, five druglords held

Punjab Police Monday claimed to have busted an inter-state and international drugs gang, and recovered 23 kg of heroin in the last four days. Five druglords have been arrested in this connection.

The seized heroin is worth Rs.115 crore in the international market, police said.

Inspector General (Counter Intelligence) Gaurav Yadav said operations carried out in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Jalandhar and Patiala June 6-9 led to the uncovering of the drug racket.

"Following up on the arrests of druglords in the state, police parties have been dispatched outside Punjab to nab their absconding associates. The chain of one cartel busted by Jalandhar police starts from one 'Bagga Chairman' of Lahore and culminates at one 'Anaten' of Sri Lanka (based in Delhi), with several Afghans in various links. Further investigation in this direction is continuing," Yadav said.

Police also recovered over Rs.76 lakh in cash, weapons and ammunition, cars, 3,000 kg of precursor chemical pseudoephedrine and Pakistani mobile SIM cards from the arrested people.

"The druglords were leading an affluent lifestyle using luxury cars, single digit cell phone numbers and have a penchant for flashy clothes and branded items. They had amassed property and built palatial houses using drug money.

"Their property details are being verified and process will be initiated to freeze and confiscate the ill-gotten money from the drug trade," Yadav said.

Punjab Police had last year busted an international racket of synthetic drugs worth nearly Rs.6,000 crore in the state and arrested nearly 50 people.