AMRITSAR: Striking a major blow to the trans-border narcotic smuggling amidst the ongoing war against drugs waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Amritsar Commissionerate Police has apprehended three drug smugglers including a big fish identified as Gurbax alias Lala of Chheharta and seized 1 Kg Ice (Methamphetamine), 2.45 Kg Heroin and 520 grams pseudoephedrine— a precursor chemical from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Saturday.
“Drug smuggler Gurbax alias Lala has been actively sourcing the precursor chemicals, used to adulterate crude heroin to increase its potent effect, and to manufacture Crystal Methamphetamine (ICE), ” he said, while adding that accused Lala used to earn a commission of Rs 50, 000 per consignment.
Pertinently, Punjab Police’s persistent fight against drugs, which is resulting in breaking the supply chain of drugs, smugglers are now resorting to local manufacturing of synthetic drugs, like ICE, using precursor chemicals to fill the vaccum. Taliban in Afganistan has also put ban on production of opium which is also a reason behind paucity of heroin supply.
Apart from big fish Gurbax alias Lala, other two arrested drug peddlers have been identified as Daljit Kaur and Arshdeep, both residents of Chheharta. Accused Gurbax alias Lala and Arshdeep have criminal history and both are out on bail.
The DGP said that the Amritsar Commissionerate Police has also traced the backward link of accused Gurbax alias Lala and Police teams are on manhunt to nab the kingpin of this narco-syndicate.
The development came after meticulous investigations of backward and forward linkages carried out by the Amritsar Commissionerate Police into the arrest of a local drug peddler Daljit Kaur from Kot Khalsa area on June 16, 2024, who was arrested with 50 grams heroin. The latter’s arrest further led to the arrest of her accomplice drug peddler Arshdeep from Chheharta area along with 200 grams heroin.
Sharing more details, Commissioner of Police (CP) Amritsar Ranjit Singh Dhillon said that during investigation carried out by special operational team of Police Station Anngarh led by SI Balwinder Singh under the supervision of ADCP Zone 1 Dr Darpan Ahluwalia and ACP Central Surinder Singh, into the arrest of accused Daljit Kaur and Arshdeep, backward linkage was traced to Gurbax Lala. The latter was then nabbed in a meticulous operation spanning over four days, with recovery of 1Kg ICE, 2Kg 200gm Heroin and 520gm of precursor pseudoephedrine, he added.
He said that accused Gurbax alias Lala, who has been facing cases pertaining to murder, Arms Act and NDPS act, was also actively involved in Amritsar Central Jail’s ‘Fenka’ activity. Multiple bidis rolled into packs were also recovered from his possession by the Police teams, he said, while adding that further investigations are on.
A case FIR no. 115 dated 16/6/24 had been registered under section 21-B of the NDPS act at Police Station Islamabad.