AMRITSAR: In a major breakthrough aligned with Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s ongoing directive to make Punjab a drug-free state, the Amritsar Commissionerate Police has successfully dismantled an active cross-border drug smuggling cartel. The operation resulted in the arrest of six individuals—including two juveniles—and the recovery of 30.045 kg of heroin, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav announced on Thursday.
The adult accused have been identified as Gautam (24) of Fateh Singh Colony, Kabir alias Kaku (22) of Chheharta, Sameer alias Sabarwal (18) of Amritsar, and Gurpreet Singh alias Keeda (18) of Orchid Valley, Amritsar. According to police records, Kabir alias Kaku has a prior criminal background and was previously booked under a separate Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act case in Chheharta. Along with the massive drug consignment, police teams also impounded a motorcycle used by the cartel to transport the narcotics.
The Dubai Connection and Modus Operandi
DGP Gaurav Yadav stated that preliminary investigations have revealed a deep-rooted international network linked to a Dubai-based drug lord. Operating safely from Dubai, the mastermind was actively luring vulnerable, young individuals—including minors—with lucrative monetary incentives to execute ground-level smuggling operations.
The module operated systematically under digital instructions:
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Sourcing: The Dubai mastermind facilitated the drop of heroin consignments from across the international border into India.
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Retrieval: The local accused retrieved the hidden consignments from designated coordinate locations.
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Distribution: The narcotics were then transported via local couriers and distributed to various pre-determined recipients across Punjab.
Mastermind Wanted in Multiple Cases
Sharing details of the operational dragnet, Amritsar Commissioner of Police (CP) Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said that tactical teams initially intercepted Gautam and his two juvenile accomplices, catching them red-handed with the 30.045 kg heroin haul. Based on subsequent disclosures made by Gautam during interrogation, police conducted follow-up raids to arrest Kabir, Sameer, and Gurpreet.
CP Bhullar further disclosed that the Dubai-based mastermind is already highly wanted by Indian law enforcement agencies in connection with three major past offenses, including a 42 kg heroin recovery case and a separate 10 kg methamphetamine (ICE) trafficking case.
A formal criminal case—FIR No. 122, dated 03.06.2026—has been registered under Sections 21-C, 25, and 29 of the NDPS Act at the Chheharta Police Station in Amritsar. DGP Yadav emphasized that an exhaustive investigation is currently underway to map out all forward and backward linkages, expose local associates, and trace the financial trail to uncover suspected hawala connections feeding the network.
