Punjab Newsline | Amritsar
Amritsar Commissionerate Police have busted a cross-border arms and narcotics smuggling module with the arrest of two individuals. Police recovered six sophisticated pistols, one kilogram of heroin, one kilogram of opium, and ₹10,000 in drug money from their possession.
Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav identified the arrested accused as Joga Singh (45), a resident of village Dall in Tarn Taran, and Manpreet Singh (28), a resident of village Kali in Tarn Taran. The seized weapons include two .30 bore X-Shot pistols, two .30 bore Chinese pistols, one .30 bore Turkish Zigana pistol, and one .30 bore PX5 Storm pistol. Police also impounded the motorcycle allegedly used for smuggling activities.
The DGP said preliminary investigations have revealed that the accused were in direct contact with a foreign-based handler who was facilitating the cross-border smuggling of illegal weapons and narcotics for delivery to criminal elements in Punjab. He added that further investigations are underway to identify all associates linked to the foreign handler and establish both forward and backward linkages of the network.
Sharing details of the operation, Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said acting on credible intelligence, police teams first apprehended Joga Singh with four illegal .30 bore pistols. Sustained interrogation later led to the recovery of two more pistols based on his disclosure.
In a subsequent operation, police arrested Manpreet Singh with one kilogram of heroin. Further questioning resulted in the recovery of one kilogram of opium and ₹10,000, believed to be proceeds from drug trafficking.
The Police Commissioner said investigations have revealed that Joga Singh was operating an illegal arms supply network, while Manpreet Singh was managing a cross-border drug trafficking module under the directions of the same foreign handler.
Police also revealed that Joga Singh is a habitual offender with a long criminal history. He has been booked in 21 criminal cases across Tarn Taran, Amritsar Rural, Kapurthala, and Ludhiana Rural involving charges of murder, violations of the Arms Act and NDPS Act, theft, robbery, and dacoity.
