In a major breakthrough, Mohali police have arrested five individuals involved in an inter-state drug smuggling operation. The accused, all from Uttar Pradesh, were apprehended on Monday after the police recovered 8.5 kg of opium, worth several lakhs, during a high-profile raid.
The police operation targeted two drug modules operating between Shahjahanpur and Aliganj in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. The Shahjahanpur module consisted of Dharm Singh and Om Prakash Verma, both from Shahjahanpur district. The Aliganj module members were Manish Kumar, Kamal Verma, and Kamal Verma, all residents of Bareilly district.
The police had received intelligence about two drug consignments traveling from Uttar Pradesh to Punjab. Acting on this, two teams were formed under the supervision of SP Jyoti Yadav and SP Manpreet Singh, with the assistance of Dera Bassi DSP Bikramjit Singh Brar and Zirakpur DSP Jaspinder Singh.
At the operation’s core, police intercepted two vehicles: a red Mahindra TUV 300 and a white Maruti Ertiga. The first interception, near Nagla Morh, led to the seizure of 4 kg of opium from the Shahjahanpur module. The second vehicle was stopped on College Road in Dera Bassi, and 4.5 kg of opium was recovered.
During the investigation, it was revealed that Ankit Verma, a Shahjahanpur native, was the mastermind behind the Shahjahanpur module, directing the trafficking of large quantities of narcotics. Manish Kumar from the Aliganj module confirmed procuring the opium from his hometown for onward supply to Punjab.
This successful operation highlights the growing concern of inter-state drug trafficking and the concerted efforts by Mohali police to curb the influx of narcotics into the region. Further investigations are underway to identify the broader network and other potential smugglers involved in the case.
