Punjab Police bust foreign-linked narcotics and arms module in Hoshiarpur

Punjab Police on Monday said it had busted an inter-state and foreign-linked narcotics and illegal arms module in Hoshiarpur district, arresting four people and seizing a large consignment of drugs and weapons.

Police recovered 9.925 kg of heroin , two foreign-made pistols , eight magazines , and 40 live cartridges during the operation, which officials described as a major breakthrough in efforts to curb organised crime and drug trafficking in the state.

The arrested accused have been identified as Manjinder Singh alias Sonu , Shivam Bhandari , Sahil Masih alias Monu , and Ramel Roger , all residents of different districts in Punjab. Investigators said the four were apprehended after police teams set up a special checkpoint in the Garhshankar area following specific intelligence inputs. A Hyundai i20 car carrying the suspects was intercepted , leading to the recovery of the narcotics and weapons from the vehicle.

According to Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav , preliminary investigation indicates that the accused were acting as local handlers for foreign-based gangsters , facilitating the distribution of heroin and the supply of illegal firearms in the region.

Police sources also said that Sahil Masih is a repeat offender and had earlier been involved in a firing incident targeting a police party in Batala district , raising concerns about the network’s criminal background.

A case has been registered at the Garhshankar police station under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Arms Act .

Officials said investigators are now working to establish forward and backward linkages , trace the source of the drugs and weapons, and identify other members of the organised crime network. Further arrests and recoveries are expected as the probe progresses.