Punjab Police's Counter Intelligence (CI) unit in Amritsar dismantled a cross-border narcotics smuggling network on Tuesday, 7 July, arresting three individuals and recovering 25 kg of heroin from their possession. Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav confirmed the operation, describing it as a significant strike against an organised supply chain feeding heroin across Punjab.

The Accused and How They Were Caught

The three arrested have been identified as Bhupinder Singh, a resident of Jandaur village in Hoshiarpur; Ravi Kumar, a resident of Kirpal Colony, Dasuya in Hoshiarpur; and Vishal Singh, a resident of Fatahpur in Amritsar.

Acting on specific intelligence that the suspects were set to meet at Gill village in Amritsar for a major heroin transaction, CI Amritsar teams established checkpoints and intercepted all three near the Dana Mandi area of Gill village. During the search, 8 kg of heroin was recovered from Vishal Singh, while the remaining 17 kg was seized from Bhupinder Singh and Ravi Kumar. The vehicle used to transport the contraband has also been impounded.

Cross-Border Links Under Investigation

Preliminary investigation has revealed, according to DGP Yadav, that the accused were operating on the directions of a cross-border smuggler and were tasked with collecting heroin consignments from multiple locations for onward delivery across the state. Authorities are working to identify all associates and map the full supply chain.

A case has been registered under Sections 21, 25 and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at Police Station State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) in Amritsar. Further investigation is underway.

Part of a Wider Crackdown

This bust follows a separate operation just 24 hours earlier, in which CI Amritsar arrested three other individuals linked to two distinct narcotics networks and recovered 13 kg of heroin. Together, the two operations netted 38 kg of heroin and six arrests within a single day — signalling an intensified enforcement push by the Counter Intelligence wing.

Notably, Punjab's border geography makes it a primary conduit for heroin smuggled from across the international boundary, and CI Amritsar has emerged as a frontline unit in interdiction efforts. The back-to-back operations suggest actionable intelligence is being acted upon rapidly.

What Happens Next

Investigators are expected to pursue leads connecting the arrested individuals to their cross-border handler. The impounded vehicle will be forensically examined for additional evidence. Further arrests in the supply chain cannot be ruled out, officials indicated.