Ex-serviceman among 3 arrested with Pak smuggled heroin worth Rs 14 cr

SP ANTF Vinay Sharma interacting with media persons at Jammu. -Excelsior/Rakesh
SP ANTF Vinay Sharma interacting with media persons at Jammu. -Excelsior/Rakesh

International drug cartel busted

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 22: Anti Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) busted international drug cartel with the arrest of three persons including an ex-serviceman along with Pakistan smuggled heroin worth Rs 14 crore.
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This was informed by SP ANTF Vinay Sharma while interacting with media persons here today afternoon.
Divulging the details, SP Vinay Sharma said that on July 19 this year, reliable information was received by ANTF that some consignment of heroin is being smuggled from Khour to Akhnoor on a scooty bearing registration number JK02BA-0104.
“Acting over the information, the sleuths of ANTF laid check points at various locations and intercepted the said scooty at one of the check point. During checking, the ANTF sleuths recovered around one kilogram of Pak smuggled heroin valuing around Rs 7 crore in the international market from the vehicle and nabbed the rider, who was identified as Naresh Kumar alias Kurkaa, son of Mohan Lal, a resident of Village Mangiyal Avtara, Tehsil Khour, District Jammu”, SP Vinay Sharma stated.
During preliminary investigation, Naresh Kumar revealed names of his two associates, who were also linked with cross border smuggling of heroin, SP said, ANTF immediately swung into action and arrested both his associates, who were identified as Kamal Singh alias Kali, son of Bakil Singh, and Balbir Singh alias Kala (ex-serviceman), son of Jagga Singh, both residents of Rishi Colony Tehsil Khour District Jammu.
“During further questioning, both Kamal Singh and Balbir Singh admitted to the fact that they have concealed one more packet of Pakistan smuggled heroin near International Border. The arrested accused persons were taken to the site near International Border Garar Khour which they indicated during their revelations”, SP stated.
SP informed that army was also taken on board and the other packet of Pakistan smuggled heroin was recovered on the instance of the suspects near the International Border in Khour, adding that the packet was weighing around 1 kilogram with value of Rs 7 crore in the international market.
“On further interrogation, the accused persons revealed the detailed modus operandi of the cross border drug smugglers. They disclosed that the Pakistan drug dealers throw the consignment towards Indian side, which was supposed to be lifted by them”, SP Vinay Sharma stated.
A case under relevant sections of Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Act has been registered in the instant case, SP said, adding that ANTF is investigating further details of this cross border drug cartel and its detailed forward as well as backward linkages.