Pakistan-backed drug syndicate busted; kingpin among 9 held in Chandigarh

The Chandigarh Police has claimed to have dismantled a Pakistan-backed international drug syndicate, arresting its alleged kingpin Gurmeet Singh along with his eight associates, including a woman.The seizures include 312.71 grams of heroin, Rs 5.12 lakh worth drug money, 2 cars (Ertiga), and one scooter (electric), according to the police.

- GNS News Agency, May 3

Acting on a tip-off, a team from the Crime Branch Police Station launched a targeted operation on April 14.During the initial raid, two drug peddlers, Balkar Singh and Navneet Kaur, were apprehended with 35.17 grams of heroin, leading to the registration of an FIR under the NDPS Act.Further investigations and disclosures by the arrested individuals led to a series of coordinated raids across Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.Police said that Gurmeet Singh, who is from Jalalabad, Punjab, was found to be in direct contact with Pakistan-based smugglers Riyaz Sarvar and Aabid Ali from the Kasur area of Pakistan, and was facilitated initially by notorious drug peddler Mahinder Singh.During the probe, the police learnt that over a span of five years, the syndicate is suspected to have smuggled more than 100 kilograms of heroin into India, using sophisticated methods such as 4-inch pipes to push the contraband through the border fencing under the cover of fog and weather disturbances.According to the police, among the arrested accused, Balkar Si