PHAGWARA: In a major breakthrough against drug trafficking, Jalandhar Rural Police have successfully busted an interstate poppy husk smuggling network and arrested two hardcore smugglers after recovering 102 kg of poppy husk being transported in a specially modified truck, said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jalandhar Rural Harkamal Preet Singh Khakh here on Monday.
Police teams have also impounded the truck (HP-12-D-8481) with a specially designed hidden compartment under the floor being used to transport the contraband.
SSP Khakh said that following specific intelligence inputs regarding movement of large consignment of poppy husk, special teams were constituted under close supervision SP Investigation Jasroop Kaur Bath and DSP Shahkot Onkar Singh Brar. Acting swiftly, the police team led by SI Gurnam Singh of Police Station Shahkot intercepted the truck during special nakabandi at T-point on Moga-Jalandhar highway.
Those arrested have been identified as Harpreet Singh alias Happy son of Darshan Singh of Kathunangal, Amritsar Rural and Varinder Singh alias Raju son of Malkit Singh of Thatta Nawan, Talwandi Chaudrian, Kapurthala, he said, while adding that two more accused identified as Sonu of Daulewala, Kot Ise Khan, Moga and Karan of Saichan, Sultanpur Lodhi, Kapurthala are currently absconding.
The SSP Khakh said that preliminary investigations have revealed the syndicate's complex interstate operations, with key figures operating from Kapurthala and Goindwal jails directing the drug trade from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh into Punjab. "We will be seeking production warrants for the accused lodged in these jails and after bringing them on police remand, their arrest in this case will also be made to unearth the entire network, " he added.
He said that the investigation has also revealed that the network was purchasing poppy husk at lower rates from outside the state and selling it at inflated prices in different cities and villages of Punjab, making huge profits from this illegal trade.
"This operation has dealt a significant blow to the interstate drug trafficking network operating in our region and Jalandhar Rural Police is committed to completely eliminating the drug menace from the district. More arrests are likely to be made in the coming days as our teams are conducting raids to nab the absconding accused, " said SSP Khakh.
The case has been registered under sections 15-61-85 of the NDPS Act at Police Station Shahkot. Further investigations are ongoing to trace the backward and forward linkages and arrest the remaining accused, he added.