Moga police attach properties of accused in 42 NDPS cases

CRACKDOWN 100 acres of agricultural land, ₹10lakh bank balance, 63 houses and 25 vehicles attached; had sent list of 73 cases to competent authority in Delhi for same

MOGA : Coming down heavily on drug smugglers, the police have started attaching property of the accused in cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act since 2007 at various police stations of the Moga district.

Police officials said it has been a major crackdown on properties acquired by drug smugglers through illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and smuggling.

The police had sent a list of 73 NDPS cases to the Competent Authority (CA), New Delhi, seeking permission to attach the properties of drug smugglers. Of these, permission was granted in 42 cases.

The Moga police have attached over 100 acres of agricultural land, ₹10-lakh bank balance, 63 houses and 25 vehicles, including cars and bikes, in these cases.

Notably, the Punjab cabinet had approved a draft legislation in November 2017, enabling the authorities to attach, seize and forfeit properties of offenders booked under the NDPS Act.

A senior police official seeking anonymity said that now 31 NDPS cases are pending with the Competent Authority for permission. He said the authority is seeking more information in 12 such cases which would be sent at the earliest. “We are hopeful to getting permission in the rest of the cases soon.”

He added, “Now, the drug smugglers will not be able to sell their properties.”

Another official said, “We are trying to get the permission for invoking PIT (the prevention of illicit traffic) section of the NDPS Act to ensure detention of big drug smugglers in jails even after their release order in specific cases.”

Meanwhile, Moga deputy commissioner (DC) Dilraj Singh and SSP Gurpreet Singh Toor on Wednesday held meetings with various anti-drug committees at Baghapurana and Nihal Singh Wala in Moga.

“With the help of villagers, we have started identifying addicts who sniff or inject heroin. We are referring them to the drug rehabilitation centres in the district as it will help the police to break the supply chain,” the Moga SSP said.

On Daulewala village in the district, infamous for drugs, he said police have been deployed at the village. “Now, the situation has improved as the villagers are also co-operating us.”

STATE CABINET HAD APPROVED A LEGISLATION LAST YEAR, ENABLING AUTHORITIES TO ATTACH, SEIZE AND FORFEIT PROPERTIES OF SUCH OFFENDERS