FURTHER INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY TO ESTABLISH BACKWARD AND FORWARD LINKAGES IN THIS CASE: DGP GAURAV YADAV, FOLLOWING REVELATIONS OF ARRESTED ACCUSED KARAN, POLICE TEAMS RECOVERED 10KG HEROIN FROM HIS RENTED ACCOMODATION: DIG HARMANBIR GILL, EIZED CONSIGNMENT WAS INTENDED FOR DISTRIBUTION ACROSS PUNJAB: SSP BHUPINDER SINGH 

Vikram Ditya Sharma/Chandigarh

In a major crackdown on narco-hawala nexus amidst the ongoing anti-drugs campaign ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’, Ferozepur Police has busted a drug smuggling module with the arrest of three persons and recovered 12.07 Kg heroin and ₹25.12 Lakhs in drug and hawala money, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Thursday.

Those arrested have been identified as Karan Kumar alias Ghanni (22), Rohit Bhatti (24), and Aakashdeep alias Aakash (24) — all residents of Bukkan Khan Wala in Ferozepur. Accused Karan Kumar and Akashdeep have criminal backward with cases under NDPS act and Arms Act registered against them. 

Apart from recovering heroin and drug money, Police teams have also impounded their Maruti Ertiga car, bearing registration number PB-01-F-1618, which they were using to deliver drug consignments.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said that an FIR under the NDPS Act is registered at Police Station Ghall Khurd. Further investigation is underway to trace forward and backward linkages, he added.

Sharing operation details, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Ferozepur Range Harmanbir Singh Gill, while addressing a press conference said that following rigorous surveillance and intelligence-led operation, Police teams have arrested trio accused persons from near Jodhia Nehra Pull and recovered 2.07 kg heroin and Rs 25.12 lakhs drug money from their car. 

He said that following the revelations of accused Karan, Police teams have recovered another chunk of 10 kg heroin concealed behind the Toilet seat at his rented accommodation located at Rikhi Colony in Ferozepur.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ferozepur Bhupinder Singh said that preliminary investigations suggest their involvement in cross-border narcotics trafficking, with suspected links to Pakistan-based operatives using drones for deliveries. “The seized consignment was intended for distribution across Punjab. Further investigations are underway to uncover the whole network,” he added. 

A case FIR No. 59 dated 21-05-2025 has been registered under section 21 of the NDPS Act at Police Station Ghall Khurd.