Two drug smugglers held with 6kg heroin

A PAKISTANI SIM CARD, .22BORE AND 12BORE RIFLES BESIDES A MOTORCYCLE ALSO RECOVERED FROM THEM

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Police on Sunday arrested two drug smugglers, Sukhbir Singh, alias Titu, 65, from Naushera Dhalla village in Tarn Taran, and Tasveer Singh, alias Tassu, 60, from Gharinda in Amritsar, with 6kg of heroin.

The police also seized a Pakistani SIM card, a .22-bore rifle, 12-bore rifle, and a motorcycle from them. A case under Section 21, 25, 29/61/85 of the NDPS Act and Arms Act has been registered against them.

Both of these smugglers were in contact with their Pakistanbased associates through over phone. Sukhbir was using Pakistani SIM cards of Zong Telecom service provider to maintain regular contact with his Pakistani associates and drug smugglers, the police said in a statement .

The range of Pakistani SIM card covered Sukhbir farmhouse at Burj village in Tarn Taran. Both used to procure drugs from across the border through Pakistani and Indian couriers.

During interrogation, Sukhbir said he used to smuggle gold and was in contact with Pakistani smuggler, Asghar Chowdhary. Sukhbir’s phone directory lists contacts of more than 130 numbers in Pakistan, including smugglers, namely Dogar Iftrwaha, Chowdhary Asghar, Baadi Hazi, Bagga, and Naini Narowal, said the police.

Sukhbir and his two associates were convicted for 10 years for attempt to murder of police officials and recovery of heroin and fake Indian currency notes in 2003. A case under NDPS Act was also registered against him the same year. Tasveer was caught in Pakistan in 1979 with 100 gold biscuits and had to spend time in Lahor’s Kot Lakhpat Jail.