Patiala, November 17 – Days after the arrest of dismissed Punjab Police DSP Jagdish Singh Bhola in the multimillion drug smuggling racket, the Patiala police has identified over 30 non-resident Indians (NRIs), who acted as active and passive couriers for him. The police is planning to take the Interpol’s help to nab these suspects.
 Arrested industrialist Jagjit Singh Chahal’s pharma unit in Baddi. |
Investigations reveal that Bhola and his associates to date have smuggled drugs worth over Rs 5,000 crore.
Police sources said 32 NRIs, actively involved with Bhola and his close aides, have been identified along with their current addresses.
“Bhola had hired the services of NRI from Vietnam and China (many of whom are settled abroad and specialise in drug trade and traffic). The gang ensured an air-tight packing for drugs and used special wraps to dodge sniffer dogs and X-ray scanners at airports.
“We have many names. Many of these NRIs are regular visitors to India. During their stay, they often do philanthropic activities and sponsor sports fairs and kabaddi tournaments in their villages,” said sources.
Important clues for the identification of NRIs and foreign nationals involved in the drug trade have been received and are being shared with appropriate agencies for a legal follow-up regarding their criminal liability, the SSP said, naming four NRIs from Canada — Sarabjit Singh, Nirankara Singh Dhillon, Harbans Sidhu and Dara Singh Mathoda.
“The accused would be arrested soon. Many of them have gone underground, but we will nab them. The Interpol’s help would also be sought,” said Patiala SSP Hardyal Mann. Mann said the interrogation of those arrested has revealed how drugs worth crores were manufactured in Baddi-based units and later smuggled in a planned manner across the globe.
“The Narcotics Control Bureau had also zeroed in on a rice sheller in Fatehgarh Sahib’s Jhampur village which was used for making drugs, in addition to a unit in Patiala. We are trying to get more details,” he said.
Apart from Bhola, 6 other persons have arrested in the case. “Two of the accused have bought many disputed properties in Amritsar, owing to their political links,” said a senior police officer.
Source: TNS