In a major crackdown on drug trafficking, Punjab Police has dismantled a narcotics smuggling network allegedly operated with links to a Dubai-based handler, officials said on Thursday. One आरोपी has been arrested and a large quantity of heroin seized during the operation.
According to police, the Counter Intelligence wing in Amritsar acted on specific inputs and intercepted the accused near Adda Manawala on the Amritsar–Jalandhar highway. During the search, officers recovered approximately 6 kilograms of heroin from his possession.
The arrested individual has been identified as Antarpreet Singh, a resident of Sultanwind in Amritsar. Preliminary investigation revealed that he was working under the directions of a handler based in Dubai, who is believed to be actively involved in coordinating narcotics smuggling operations into India.
Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav stated that the operation was conducted swiftly based on credible intelligence inputs. He confirmed that a case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, and further investigation is underway to identify other members of the network and trace the full supply chain.
Officials also indicated that the seized heroin is of high purity and is estimated to be worth several crores in the international market, highlighting the scale of the smuggling racket. Reports suggest the value of the recovered contraband could be around ₹42 crore, making it a significant seizure in the region.
Police sources believe that the accused was part of a larger, well-organised network with international links, using foreign-based handlers to coordinate shipments and distribution within Punjab and adjoining areas. The involvement of overseas operatives, particularly from locations like Dubai, points to an increasingly globalised drug trafficking network targeting Indian states.
This latest bust comes amid an intensified anti-drug drive by Punjab Police, which has been actively targeting cross-border and international narcotics networks. Authorities have reiterated their commitment to eliminating drug trafficking and ensuring a drug-free state.
Further investigations are ongoing, and officials have not ruled out more arrests in the coming days as they continue to probe deeper into the syndicate’s operations and financial links.
