Brother of accused in 532-kg heroin case arrested in Punjab

A 25-year-old man has been arrested in Pathankot in connection with the 532 kg heroin that was seized from the Attari border after being smuggled into India from Pakistan in a truck, police said on Monday.

Balwinder Singh Billa was arrested by the anti-drug Special Task Force of Punjab Police from the Mirthal area in Punjab's Pathankot district, they said.

Billa is the brother of Ranjit Singh Rana, who is an accused in the 532-kg heroin smuggling case, Assistant Inspector General (STF) Snehdeep Sharma told PTI.

One kg heroin and Rs 1.02 crore cash were seized from his possession, he said.

In its biggest-ever narcotics haul, the Customs Department had last month seized 532 kg suspected heroin, worth Rs 2,700 crore, that was smuggled into India.

The truck containing the heroin was to be unloaded at Rana's godown in Tarn Taran.

Police said Billa was nabbed from a house by the Beas river in Mirthal where Rana used to take shelter. This place was also used to store narcotics.

Police officials suspect Billa was also part of the drug smuggling racket.

He already faces charges for circulation fake currency notes, they added.