Punjab: NCB busts international drug syndicate, two Afghanistan nationals among 16 arrested

The Chandigarh zonal unit of the Narcotics Control Bureau has busted an international drug syndicate operating from Ludhiana and arrested 16 people including two Afghanistan nationals a senior official said on MondayThe NCB official said in Mohali that the action against the syndicate smuggling heroin began on November 15 last year with seizure of the contraband and arrest of a personDuring followup raids and searches the NCB unit busted the entire chain of this international drug syndicate Deputy Director General Northern Region of the NCB Gyaneshwar Singh told reportersDuring investigations the NCB busted two heroin processing laboratories in Ludhiana which were being operated by Afghan nationals who have been arrestedA special investigation team under Amanjit Singh Zonal Director NCBChandigarh has been formed and includes investigating officers from various NCB zones as this international drug syndicate is spread across various countries like Afghanistan Pakistan etc and different states across India he saidAlso Read Army personnel aide arrested with 31 kg heroin in PunjabSpecialised financial investigation and technical investigation teams have also been formed in this case and more than 60 bank accounts relating to this group have been debit freezed and freezing orders under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act are under consideration he saidIn November the NCB seized 2036 kg of heroin and arrested Sandeep Singh from LudhianaAccording to the NCB Sandeep Singh is one of the close associates of Akshay Kumar Chhabra the arrested kingpin of this drug syndicate who allegedly had links in Afghanistan and PakistanThe NCB official said Akshay Kumar Chhabras primary modus operandi was to import heroinmorphine from Afghanistan through cargo route and manufacture more heroin in Ludhiana itselfThe arrested Afghan nationals have been identified as Qari Hamidullah Yusufi and Hakim Salimi a chemist and associate of YusufiThe duo were allegedly involved in processing and manufacturing of heroin in Punjab New Delhi and western Uttar PradeshThirty properties purchased by this syndicate from proceeds of drug sales have been identified and necessary action is being taken against them Gyaneshwar Singh saidHe said it has also come to light during the investigation that this group was operating night clubs and restaurants in the tricity region of ChandigarhMohaliPanchkula It is being inquired into in detailAlso various other front businesses of this international drug syndicate like liquor vends rice mill ghee business and different agencies of reputed brands and role of their associates are being inquired into he saidThe agency has so far seized 3466 kg of heroin 547 kg of morphine 0557 kg of opium 2364 kg suspected narcotics powder in connection with the caseThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever