Vinay Kumar
NEW DELHI: Amritsar Commissionerate Police, in a joint operation with a central agency, has busted a cross-border illegal arms, narcotics and hawala network, apprehending seven accused including one Afghan national and one juvenile.Police recovered 10 sophisticated weapons, including two sub-machine guns, 5.048 kg of heroin and Rs 30.38 lakh in hawala money. The operation marks a major breakthrough in curbing cross-border criminal networks operating in the region, officials said.
Accused linked to foreign handlers
Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused were allegedly linked to foreign-based handlers operating through social media platforms. The network received consignments of narcotics and illegal arms and further distributed them to criminal elements across various locations.The network also used hawala channels for financial transactions, police said. An FIR has been registered at PS Islamabad in Amritsar under relevant sections of the NDPS Act, Arms Act and other penal provisions.
Investigation ongoing
Police said further investigation is underway to establish backward and forward linkages, identify additional associates connected with the foreign-based network, and ascertain further recoveries and arrests.Authorities are also probing the role of the Afghan national and the juvenile in the network, and whether the consignments originated from across the border. The Punjab Police remains firmly committed to a zero-tolerance policy against drug trafficking, illegal arms smuggling, hawala operations and organised crime, officials said.
