Moga police have claimed to have arrested three alleged drug smugglers and recovered 12 kg of heroin from their possession. A white Maruti Swift car without a registration number, allegedly used in the operation, has also been seized.
Special Police Officer (D) Ajairaj Singh and DSP (D) Jatinder Singh said the arrests were made following a tip-off received near the Ajitwal bus stand. Acting on the information, a CIA staff team led by ASI Lavjeet Singh conducted a raid near the grain market in Ajitwal.
The suspects were identified as Saurav Singh alias Jaani, 21, and Baljinder Singh alias Lovely, 24, both residents of Peere Ke Uttar village in Fazilka district, and Manpreet Singh alias Goni, 29, a resident of Badhni Kalan village in Moga district.
Police said the vehicle was searched in the presence of DSP Jatinder Singh. During the search, a blue bag containing 12 kg of heroin was allegedly recovered from the footwell on the conductor’s side of the vehicle.
A case has been registered at Ajitwal police station under Sections 21, 29, 61 and 85 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
According to police officials, all three accused have previous criminal records. Saurav Singh and Baljinder Singh had earlier faced a case registered in May 2024 under the NDPS Act and Arms Act in connection with the recovery of more than 5.4 kg of heroin.
Police said Manpreet Singh has also faced several cases registered at different police stations under the Arms Act, NDPS Act and Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code, relating to an alleged attempt to murder.
The police said the accused were produced before a court and police remand was obtained for further questioning. Investigators are now working to establish the previous and subsequent links of the alleged drug syndicate and determine the wider network connected with the seized heroin.