Punjab police recover 14 kgs of heroin worth Rs.70 crore in international market

Amritsar, August 16, 2013: The State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) of Punjab police has achieved a major success in its war against smuggling of narcotics in the state with recovery of  14 kgs of heroin of worth Rs. 70 crore in international market from two separate vehicle and the arrest of three interstate smugglers namely Simratpal Singh s/o Harbhajan Singh r/o: 1-B,Air India Flat, Ranjit Avenue PS: Civil Line Amritsar, Hargobind Singh @ sodhi s/o Mahinder Singh r/o: Ranjit Vihar , Gali no.06,Lohraka Road, Amritsar and Surjit Singh @ Baba s/o Bhajan Singh r/o: Preet Vihar, near Janta Hospital, Airport Road, Amritsar.

Disclosing this here, Manminder Singh, SSP/SSOC, Amritsar said that acting on a secret information, a specially constituted police party led by DSP Ashok Kumar and Inspector Harwinderpal Singh, SHO/SSOC intercepted these smugglers in B-Block Market, Ranjit Avenue Amritsar, where they had gathered for a deal of heroin on their cars, a black Ford Fiesta PB02-AS-6300 and a SUV Ford Endeavor (No.   DL1C-AN-0101).

He informed that after noticing the police party they tried to escape. The Police party apprehended Ford Fista car along with the incumbent Simratpal Singh, who has been posted as Assistant Security officer at International Airport Amritsar.  However, two persons boarded Ford Endeavor and were able to escape after trying to run over the police party with an intention to kill them. The police party had to resort to fire in self defense and to stop the vehicle. A Police party was sent to track and arrest the absconders besides alerting the Amritsar, Batala, Gurdaspur and Pathankot police.         

He revealed that during the search of Ford Fiesta car, 07 kg Heroin was recovered from the specially fitted gas tank in the boot of the car. A case FIR (No. 04) dated August 14 U/s 21/25/29/61/85 NDPS Act, 307 IPC at Police Station, SSOC, Amritsar was registered. 

He further informed that the police party following the absconders had nabbed Hargobind Singh @ Sodhi and Surjit Singh @ Baba in the area of Taragarh with the help of Pathankot police and the search of the vehicle had resulted in recovery of another 7 Kg of Heroin taking the tally to 14 Kgs of heroin with a International market value of about 70 Crores. A separate case FIR (No.  42) dated August 15 U/s 21/25/29/61/85 NDPS Act registered at Police Station Taragarh of district Pathankot.        

The SSP/SSOC said that investigation was being conducted on different lines to unearth a complete nexus and network of these notorious smugglers. It was also pertinent to mention here that Hargobind Singh @ Sodhi was a hardcore smuggler and has been convicted in different cases under NDPS Act in the past and Surjit Singh @ Baba was also involved, he added. During the investigation two Pak. Mobile phones have also been recovered from the accused. The arrest of Simratpal Singh who was posted as Assistant Security officer with International Airport, Amritsar further suggest the ‘Modus Oprendi’ of the gang to carry the narcotics to its final destination in  America and Europe .The investigation would explore all angles and ascertain the exact point from where the consignment was pushed in India across the border. More arrests were being expected, said the SSP/SSOC.