Punjab Police seize 30 kg heroin in Amritsar, two arrested
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Punjab Police's Counter Intelligence (CI) unit in Amritsar has dismantled a cross-border narcotics smuggling network, arresting two operatives and recovering 30 kg of heroin on 14 July, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav confirmed. The bust marks the third major narcotics module neutralised by CI Amritsar in under two weeks, pushing total heroin seizures to 68 kg in just 10 days.
The Arrested Operatives
The two individuals taken into custody have been identified as Gurpreet Singh, alias Gopi, a resident of Shaheed Udham Singh Nagar in Amritsar, and Gagandeep Singh, a resident of Bhalla Colony in Amritsar. Police also impounded the motorcycle the duo had been using to transport the contraband.
How the Operation Unfolded
According to DGP Yadav, Counter Intelligence teams received specific intelligence that the two suspects had recently collected a large heroin consignment and were en route to deliver it near the Gaunsabad area under Kambo police station in Amritsar. Acting on the tip, police set up checkpoints and intercepted the pair on their motorcycle near Gaunsabad, recovering 30 kg of heroin from their possession.
Cross-Border Links Under Scrutiny
Preliminary investigation has revealed that the accused were allegedly operating on the instructions of a foreign-based handler with links to cross-border smugglers, according to DGP Yadav. Their role, he said, involved collecting heroin consignments from multiple locations and distributing them to other parties across Punjab.
A Pattern of Escalating Seizures
This is the third significant narcotics bust by CI Amritsar since 6 July. On that date, three individuals were arrested with 13 kg of heroin. The very next day, 7 July, three more persons were apprehended carrying 25 kg. The cumulative haul of 68 kg in ten days points to a sustained and coordinated crackdown on what authorities describe as an active cross-border supply corridor. The pattern suggests a pipeline that is both well-organised and resilient — raising questions about how many more nodes remain operational.
What Comes Next
Investigators are expected to pursue the foreign-based handler angle, with the case likely to involve coordination with central agencies. The seizures come against the backdrop of Punjab's long-running battle with drug trafficking networks that exploit its proximity to the international border.