Over 8-kg heroin seized near Pakistan border; 1 held

Our Correspondent

Tarn Taran, May 28

During a search operation, the district police seized 8.20 kg of heroin and 30 grams of opium at Rattoke village 50, beyond the Zero Line on the Indo-Pak border near BSF Pillar No. 166 here on Thursday. The consignment was buried under the earth.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dhruv Dahiya informed mediapersons that Gurlal Singh of Rattoke village, along with his other associates, had brought the consignment from across the border from their Pakistan-based partners. While Gurlal Singh was arrested, his other associates absconded, said the SSP.

The seized contraband is worth Rs 40 crore in the international market. The SSP said the operation was launched on a tip-off received by ASI Gurdial Singh of the anti-narcotic cell. DSP (Major Crime) Kanwaljit Singh and Inspector Prabhjit Singh, SHO, Tarn Taran (City) police station, headed the operation. The SSP said the heroin was packed in five bottles and the opium was wrapped in a plastic envelope.

A case under Sections 21, 29, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act has been registered by the Khemkaran police. Police teams have been sent to nab the absconding associates of Gurlal Singh, said the SSP. Gurlal Singh, who once tried to cross over to the border, was earlier booked in two heinous criminal cases, added the SSP.