Narcotics Control Bureau, Chandigarh Zonal Unit launched a special drive against an inter-national drug syndicate with hub in Punjab. Investigations have revealed that network busted had common linkages to Shaheen Bagh & Muzaffarnagar cases booked by NCB in April 2022.
It is recapitulated that on 15.11.2022, Narcotics Control Bureau Chandigarh Zonal Unit busted a international heroin syndicate having their main hub in Ludhiana district of Punjab and seized 20.326 Kgs Heroin from conscious possession of Sandeep Singh r/o Ludhiana, Punjab.
During the follow up raids/searches Narcotics Control Bureau Chandigarh Unit completely busted the entire chain of this international drug syndicate operating from Ludhiana, Punjab .This operation was fuelled by inter-agency co-operation& various central agencies including various Zones of NCB and Counter Intelligence Punjab Police played a crucial role in this operation. Further in this operation NIDAAN (National Integrated Database on Arrested Narco Offenders) & ICJS (Inter-operable Criminal Justice System) were extensively used to trace the accused/members of this international drug syndicate.
During investigation NCB-Chandigarh has busted two Heroin processing labs in the heart of Punjab i.e. Ludhiana which were being operated by Afghan Nationals, who have also been arrested.
As this international drug syndicate is spread across various countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan etc. and different states across India, a special investigation team underAmanjit Singh, Zonal Director, NCB-Chandigarh has been formed & includes Investigating Officers from various NCB Zones. Specialized Financial Investigation &Technical Investigation teams have also been formed in this case. More than 60 Bank Accounts relating to this group have been debitfreezed and freezing orders under NDPS Act, 1985 are under consideration.
The details of seizures made in the follow up action are tabulated infra in Table A.
Table A
|
Date
|
Seizures
|
Place
|
|
15.11.2022
|
20.326 Kgs Heroin
|
Dugri, Ludhiana
|
|
16.11.2022
|
0.2 Gram Heroin
17 Gram Opium
02 live cartridges
|
NiteshVihar, Ludhiana
|
|
26.11.2022
|
7.750 Kgs of Heroin
04 live bullets with magazine
|
Manakwal, Ludhiana
(Clandestine Lab)
|
|
26.11.2022
|
1.140 Kgs of Heroin
23.645 Kgs of Suspected Narcotics Powder
01 bottle of Acetic Anhydride & 04 bottles of HCL
|
Baba Deep Singh Nagar, Ludhiana
(Clandestine Lab)
|
|
29.11.2022
|
0.090 Kgs Opium
|
Booth No. 93, Phase-II Market, Dugri, Ludhiana,
|
|
29.11.2022
|
5.470 Kgs of Morphine
0.450 Kgs of Opium
0.050 Kgs of Heroin
25 live bullets
|
SCO No. 96, New Grain Market, Ludhiana
|
|
25.12.2022
|
5.200 Kgs of Heroin
|
SCO No. 11, New Grain Market, Gill Road, Ludhiana
|
The members of this International Drug Syndicatearrested are tabulated infra as Table B :
Table B
|
S.No.
|
Name
|
Date of Arrest
|
Role
|
|
1.
|
Sandeep Singh @Deepu
|
16.11.2022
|
Sandeep Singh @ Deepu is one of the close associates of Akshay Chhabra in Heroin smuggling and he is the one apprehended in conscious possession of 20.326 Kg Heroin.
|
|
2.
|
Harsukhvir Singh @ Raja
|
18.11.2022
|
Harsukhvir @ Raja @ Rajvir is also one the key associates of Akshay Chhabra and he was looking after the drug money in the syndicate.
|
|
3.
|
Akshay Kumar Chhabra – Kingpin
|
24.11.2022
|
Akshay Chhabra is the kingpin in this drug syndicate who had links inAfghanistan & Pakistan. Primary modus operandi was to import heroin/morphine from Afghanistan through cargo route andfurther manufacture heroin in Ludhiana itself.
|
|
4.
|
Ajay Kumar @ Gora Grover
|
24.11.2022
|
He is one of the close associates of Akshay Chhabra in Heroin smuggling. Gora Grover looked after the manufacturing of Heroin by the Afghan Nationals.
|
|
5.
|
Jaspal Singh @ Goldy
|
28.11.2022
|
Jaspal Singh alias Goldy is the close associate of Akshay Chhabra. He is one of the receivers of the seized contraband. He is expert in making cavities used for stacking drug money and hiding drug consignments.
|
|
6.
|
Hitesh Verma
|
01.12.2022
|
Hitesh Verma is the importer and proprietor of Verma International, the firm in whose name illegal morphine/crude heroin was imported in India by hiding in Juice bottles and Tomato Paste.
|
|
7.
|
Bhuvnesh Kapoor
|
07.12.2022
|
Bhuvnesh Kapoor is the middle man between ShubhashGoyal and Hitesh Verma. He created a web of firms to import morphine/heroin into India.
|
|
8.
|
Sandeep Singh @ Chatha
|
09.12.2022
|
Sandeep Singh @ Chatha is the main carrier in this syndicate who use to smuggle Heroin from J&K to Ludhiana for AkshayChhabra . He is a notorious criminal and has been accused of double murder in Delhi. He also involved various criminal cases including two NDPS case booked in 2012 & 2017 by Punjab Police. Close known aide of JagguBhagwanpuria.
|
|
9.
|
SubhashGoyal
|
09.12.2022
|
He was looking after the smooth import ofheroin in cover consignments of this drug syndicate. He was also converting drug money in white by creating fake firms and manipulating fake business transactions.
|
|
10.
|
QariHamidullahYusufi, Chemist
|
20.12.2022
|
QariHamidullahYusufi is an Afghan National and was involved in processing/manufacturing of Heroin in Punjab, New Delhi & Western U.P.
|
|
11.
|
Md. Hakim Salimi, Chemist
|
20.12.2022
|
Md. Hakim Salimi is an Afghan National & associate of QariHamidullahYusufi was involved in processing/manufacturing of Heroin in Punjab, New Delhi & Western U.P.
|
|
12.
|
Amandeep Chania
|
02.01.2023
|
Amandeep Chania is the key person in facilitating the smooth import of illegal Heroin in India through Mundra Port, Gujrat. This Heroin was imported by concealing it in Tomato Paste tins.
|
|
13.
|
Gurmail Singh @ Garry
|
04.01.2023
|
Gurmail Singh @ Garry is the oldest ally of AkshayChhabra . He used to carry Heroin from New Delhi to Punjab for Akshay.Apart from this he is also one of the receivers of the seized contraband.
|
|
14.
|
Rawaljeet @ RawalWadala
|
04.01.2023
|
He is a close associate of Gurmail Singh @ Garry and accompanied him in carrying Heroin from New Delhi to Ludhiana, Punjab.
|
|
15.
|
ZaidyHaiderRaji
|
06.01.2023
|
ZaidyHaiderRaji is the receiver of 120 Kgs of raw Heroin/Chemical fromAkshay Chhabra.
|
|
16.
|
Md. Imran
|
06.01.2023
|
He is close associate of ZaidyHaiderRaji and concerned with the manufacturing of Heroin and delivery of the same later on in the adjoining areas including Delhi.
|
In total 30 properties purchased by this international drug syndicate from drug money have been identified and necessary actions is being taken against them. Further it is has come to light during investigation that this group was operating night clubs and restaurants in the tricity region, which is being inquired into in detail. Also 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.
Till date, interalia the following seizures have been made 34.466 Kgs of Heroin, 5.470 Kgs of Morphine, 0.557 Kgs of Opium, 23.645 Kgs suspected Narcotics powder, 04 bottles of HCL, 01 bottle of Acetic Anhydride, 31 live bullets & 01 magazine. 02 factories/heroin processing hideouts of this group have also been busted.