NCB seizes 793g methamphetamine from Chandigarh advocate in Punjab drug bust
Synopsis
A practising advocate in Chandigarh was caught carrying ice and heroin — and a follow-up raid on his Kharar flat yielded a methamphetamine haul 16 times the legal commercial threshold. Investigators say the module has links to a Pakistan-based syndicate, adding an international dimension to what is already one of the NCB Chandigarh zone's larger single-operation seizures.
Key Takeaways
The NCB Chandigarh Zonal Unit and Chandigarh Police jointly busted a drug module in Kharar, Punjab on 18 June .
Total seizure: 793 grams of methamphetamine , 10 grams of heroin , and 250 grams of poppy straw .
The methamphetamine quantity is approximately 16 times the notified commercial quantity under the NDPS Act .
The accused advocate was previously booked in FIR No.
476 dated 25 December 2023 at Sector 36 Police Station, Chandigarh .
A woman co-residing with the accused was also arrested for allegedly facilitating the offence.
Investigators have found links to a Pakistan-based drug syndicate ; the probe is ongoing.
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Chandigarh Zonal Unit, in a joint operation with Chandigarh Police on 18 June, intercepted a practising advocate and dismantled a drug trafficking module operating out of Kharar, Punjab, seizing a total of 793 grams of methamphetamine, 10 grams of heroin, and 250 grams of poppy straw. The bust exposed links to a Pakistan-based drug syndicate, according to investigators.
How the Operation Unfolded
The joint operation began with the interception and search of a vehicle in the tricity region. The driver, identified as a practising advocate, was found in possession of 93 grams of methamphetamine (ice) and 10 grams of heroin during the vehicle search.
NCB officers subsequently conducted follow-up searches at a flat in Kharar, where an additional 700 grams of methamphetamine and 250 grams of poppy straw were recovered, significantly expanding the scale of the seizure.
Scale of the Seizure
The total methamphetamine haul of 793 grams is approximately 16 times the notified commercial quantity under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act — a threshold that attracts the most stringent penalties under Indian law. The quantity underscores what investigators describe as a well-organised and sophisticated trafficking network rather than a street-level operation.
Second Arrest and Prior Criminal Record
A woman residing with the accused was detained during the searches and subsequently arrested for allegedly facilitating and actively assisting in the commission of the offence. Verification during the investigation revealed that the advocate was previously booked in FIR No. 476 dated 25 December 2023, registered at the Police Station, Sector 36, Chandigarh — indicating a prior brush with drug-related law enforcement.
Pakistan-Based Syndicate Link
Investigators say the module unearthed in Kharar has traceable links to a Pakistan-based drug syndicate, a pattern that mirrors several recent NCB busts across Punjab and the tricity corridor. The region has increasingly emerged as a transit and distribution hub for cross-border narcotics, particularly synthetic drugs such as methamphetamine. This is not the first time the NCB Chandigarh Zonal Unit has flagged international syndicate connections in the area.
NCB Appeal to Citizens
The NCB has urged citizens to support the fight against drug trafficking by sharing information through the MANAS-National Narcotics Helpline at 1933. The bureau assured that the identity of all informers is kept strictly confidential. Investigators are continuing to probe the full extent of the network and additional arrests are not ruled out.
Point of View
Flagged by the NCB, fits a pattern of cross-border narcotics pipelines running through Punjab that have persisted despite repeated crackdowns. What is missing from the official account is how long this module was operational and how much product moved before interception — answers that would reveal whether this bust is a genuine network takedown or a single node removal. The NDPS commercial-quantity threshold being exceeded 16-fold also signals that this was distribution-scale trafficking, not personal use, raising questions about end-market reach across the tricity corridor.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What drugs were seized in the NCB Chandigarh operation?
The NCB and Chandigarh Police jointly seized 793 grams of methamphetamine (ice) , 10 grams of heroin , and 250 grams of poppy straw during the operation. The methamphetamine quantity alone is approximately 16 times the commercial quantity threshold under the NDPS Act.
Who was arrested in the Chandigarh drug bust?
A practising advocate was arrested after drugs were found in his vehicle and at a flat in Kharar, Punjab. A woman residing with him was also arrested for allegedly facilitating the offence.
What is the significance of the 16-times commercial quantity figure?
Under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, exceeding the notified commercial quantity triggers the most stringent penalties, including a minimum 10-year sentence. The seizure being 16 times that threshold indicates large-scale distribution rather than personal use.
Is there a Pakistan connection to the Chandigarh drug module?
Yes, according to investigators, the module unearthed in Kharar has links to a Pakistan-based drug syndicate. The NCB has flagged this as part of a broader cross-border trafficking network operating through Punjab.
How can citizens report drug trafficking to the NCB?
The NCB has urged citizens to call the MANAS-National Narcotics Helpline at 1933 to share information on drug trafficking. The bureau assures that all informer identities are kept strictly confidential.
