The Anti Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) Ferozepur Range today arrested another accused linked to the recovery of 50.14 kg heroin made last Saturday and seized Rs 20.55 lakh believed to be drug money.

AIG ANTF Gurinderbir Singh said the arrest followed the forensic examination of a mobile phone recovered earlier from Sandeep Singh alias Seepa, from whom 50 kg heroin had been seized. The analysis exposed his regular communication with Pakistani smugglers. “Our technical team traced his digital network, which led us to a hawala operator, Shriyansh, a resident of Ludhiana with links to Bikaner, Rajasthan. He was routing drug money through encrypted messaging channels shared by the Pakistani handlers,” the AIG stated.

He added that a trap was subsequently laid and the accused was apprehended with ₹20.55 lakh. He has been booked under Sections 27-A and 29 of the NDPS Act at the ANTF Police Station, Mohali. The officer said more disclosures are likely as the investigation progresses.

A day earlier, the ANTF had recovered 4.100 kg heroin during a raid and arrested two accused, Bovin Kumar alias Bobby and a juvenile, while two others, Jashandeep Singh alias Jashan and Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh, managed to escape. A manhunt is underway to trace them.