30 kg heroin seized in Amritsar; six held including two juveniles
Synopsis
Amritsar Police have cracked a Dubai-directed drug network that was using juveniles as foot soldiers — recovering over 30 kg of heroin in a single operation. The alleged mastermind, operating from Dubai, is already wanted in three separate NDPS cases, and investigators are now chasing hawala money trails that could expose a wider syndicate.
Key Takeaways
Amritsar Commissionerate Police arrested six people , including two juveniles , on 11 June .
30.045 kg of heroin and a motorcycle used for smuggling were recovered from the accused.
The alleged network was directed by a Dubai-based smuggler wanted in three NDPS cases , including a 42 kg heroin and a 10 kg ICE recovery case.
Accused Kabir alias Kaku has a prior NDPS criminal record from Chheharta police station.
Investigators are tracing hawala financial connections and identifying further associates in the network.
Amritsar Commissionerate Police has dismantled a cross-border drug smuggling cartel, arresting six individuals — including two juveniles — and recovering 30.045 kg of heroin from their possession, Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav announced in Chandigarh on Thursday, 11 June. The operation marks a significant strike against a trafficking network allegedly directed from Dubai.
How the Arrests Unfolded
Acting on specific intelligence, police teams first apprehended accused Gautam (24) along with his two juvenile accomplices, recovering the entire 30.045 kg heroin consignment at the time of their arrest. On the disclosure of Gautam, three more accused — Kabir alias Kaku (22), Sameer alias Sabarwal (18), and Gurpreet Singh alias Keeda (18) — were subsequently arrested. A motorcycle used to transport the narcotics was also seized.
The Dubai-Based Mastermind
Commissioner of Police (Amritsar) Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said preliminary investigation has revealed that a Dubai-based smuggler is the alleged mastermind of this trafficking module. According to Bhullar, this individual is already wanted in three major NDPS cases, including a 42 kg heroin recovery case and a 10 kg ICE recovery case. Operating remotely, he was reportedly luring young individuals — including juveniles — with monetary incentives to retrieve, transport, and distribute drug consignments across the state.
Key Background on the Accused
Accused Kabir has a prior criminal record, having been previously implicated in a Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) case registered at the Chheharta police station. The use of minors in the network points to a deliberate strategy by the alleged Dubai-based handler to exploit individuals less likely to attract immediate law enforcement scrutiny.
Investigation and What Comes Next
DGP Yadav stated that further investigation is underway to identify other associates within the network and to trace the financial trail, with a focus on uncovering possible hawala connections. This bust comes amid Punjab Police's sustained anti-narcotics drive along the state's border belt, where cross-border smuggling from Pakistan via drone drops and human couriers has been a persistent challenge. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether extradition proceedings will be pursued against the Dubai-based accused.
Point of View
Which exploit legal leniency around minors to insulate the upper rungs of the syndicate. Punjab Police's focus on the hawala trail is the right instinct; past busts have repeatedly shown that dismantling the money channel is the only way to collapse a network whose kingpin sits beyond Indian jurisdiction. With the Dubai-based accused already wanted in three NDPS cases and still at large, the question of international coordination with UAE law enforcement deserves more scrutiny than it typically receives in such announcements.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much heroin was seized in the Amritsar drug bust?
Police recovered 30.045 kg of heroin during the operation conducted by Amritsar Commissionerate Police. A motorcycle used to transport the consignment was also seized.
Who are the accused arrested in the Amritsar drug case?
Six individuals were arrested: Gautam (24) , Kabir alias Kaku (22) , Sameer alias Sabarwal (18) , Gurpreet Singh alias Keeda (18) , and two juveniles whose identities have not been disclosed. Kabir has a prior NDPS criminal record.
Who is the alleged mastermind behind the drug network?
According to police, the alleged mastermind is a Dubai-based smuggler who directed the operation remotely. He is reportedly wanted in three major NDPS cases, including a 42 kg heroin recovery case and a 10 kg ICE recovery case.
Why were juveniles involved in the drug smuggling network?
Authorities say the Dubai-based handler was luring young individuals, including minors, with monetary incentives to retrieve and distribute drug consignments. The use of juveniles is believed to be a deliberate tactic to reduce operational risk for the network's leadership.
What is the current status of the investigation?
Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav confirmed that investigation is ongoing to identify additional associates and trace the financial trail, including possible hawala connections. No arrests of the Dubai-based accused have been announced yet.
