Pakistan-linked drug network busted in Kharar; NCB seizes 793g Meth
Synopsis
A practicing advocate and a woman were arrested after NCB and Chandigarh Police intercepted a vehicle and raided a Kharar flat, recovering 793 grams of Methamphetamine — sixteen times the legal commercial threshold. Investigators say the module has direct links to a Pakistan-based drug syndicate, making this one of the more significant cross-border narcotics busts in the Tricity region in recent months.
Key Takeaways
NCB Chandigarh Zonal Unit and Chandigarh Police conducted a joint operation on 12 June 2025 , arresting two persons including a woman.
Total seizure: 793 grams of Methamphetamine , 10 grams of Heroin , and 250 grams of Poppy Straw from a flat in Kharar, Punjab .
The Methamphetamine recovered is approximately sixteen times the notified commercial quantity under the NDPS Act .
The primary accused — a practicing advocate — was previously booked under FIR No.
476 dated 25 December 2023 at Sector-36, Chandigarh.
Investigation has established links to a Pakistan-based drug syndicate , according to the NCB.
Citizens can report drug trafficking via the MANAS Helpline at toll-free number 1933 .
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Chandigarh Zonal Unit, and Chandigarh Police jointly dismantled a Pakistan-linked drug trafficking module operating out of Kharar, Punjab, arresting two persons — including a woman — in an operation conducted on 12 June 2025, officials confirmed on Thursday, 18 June. The bust yielded a combined seizure of 793 grams of Methamphetamine (Ice), 10 grams of Heroin, and 250 grams of Poppy Straw.
How the Operation Unfolded
The crackdown began with the interception and search of a vehicle driven by a practicing advocate. NCB officers recovered 93 grams of Methamphetamine and 10 grams of Heroin from the vehicle during the initial check. Follow-up searches at a flat in Kharar, Punjab — linked to the same accused — yielded an additional 700 grams of Methamphetamine and 250 grams of Poppy Straw.
A woman residing at the flat was subsequently detained and later formally arrested for allegedly facilitating and actively assisting in the commission of the offence, according to the NCB statement.
Scale of the Seizure
The total Methamphetamine recovered — 793 grams — is approximately sixteen times the notified commercial quantity under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, underscoring the scale of the alleged operation. Methamphetamine, commonly known as 'Ice', is among the most potent synthetic stimulants and commands high street value in urban drug markets.
Notably, investigation records show the primary accused was previously booked under FIR No. 476, dated 25 December 2023, registered at Police Station Sector-36, Chandigarh — indicating a pattern of alleged prior criminal activity.
Pakistan-Based Syndicate Link
According to the NCB, investigation so far has revealed the existence of a well-organised and sophisticated drug trafficking network with confirmed links to a Pakistan-based drug syndicate. The Tricity region — encompassing Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula — has increasingly emerged as a transit and distribution corridor for cross-border narcotics, according to law enforcement officials.
This comes amid a broader national push by the NCB to dismantle international drug supply chains. Earlier this week, the bureau destroyed seized narcotic drugs valued at ₹236 crore in Dehradun, including 303 kg of substances such as Tramadol tablets, Alprazolam tablets, and Charas linked to 11 pre-trial and post-trial cases.
NCB Appeal to Citizens
The NCB has urged citizens to share drug-related intelligence through the MANAS — National Narcotics Helpline at toll-free number 1933. The bureau has assured that the identities of all informers will be kept strictly confidential. Both accused are currently in custody as investigation continues.
Point of View
While significant, should be read carefully: attribution at this stage is investigative, not prosecutorial, and past high-profile cross-border drug cases have seen syndicate links prove harder to establish in court than in press statements. What the seizure does confirm is that the Tricity corridor — long identified as a pressure point — remains under-sealed despite repeated operations. The NCB's parallel destruction of ₹236 crore worth of drugs in Dehradun the same week signals operational momentum, but volume of seizures alone is not the same as network disruption.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized in the NCB Chandigarh drug bust in June 2025?
NCB and Chandigarh Police recovered a total of 793 grams of Methamphetamine (Ice), 10 grams of Heroin, and 250 grams of Poppy Straw during the operation on 12 June 2025. The Methamphetamine quantity alone is approximately sixteen times the commercial quantity threshold under the NDPS Act.
Who was arrested in the Kharar drug trafficking case?
Two persons were arrested — a practicing advocate whose vehicle was intercepted during the initial check, and a woman who was residing at the flat in Kharar, Punjab, where the bulk of the drugs were recovered. She was detained and later formally arrested for allegedly facilitating the offence.
What is the Pakistan connection in the Chandigarh drug case?
According to the NCB, investigation has revealed that the arrested individuals were part of a well-organised drug trafficking network with links to a Pakistan-based drug syndicate. The bureau has not yet publicly disclosed further operational details of the alleged cross-border supply chain.
Was the accused in the Kharar drug case previously known to police?
Yes. Investigation records show the primary accused was previously booked under FIR No. 476, dated 25 December 2023, at Police Station Sector-36, Chandigarh, indicating prior alleged involvement in criminal activity.
How can citizens report drug trafficking to the NCB?
The NCB urges citizens to call the MANAS — National Narcotics Helpline at toll-free number 1933. The bureau assures that the identities of all informers are kept strictly confidential.
