In a major blow to drug trafficking in the region, the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) arrested Dharmendra Singh, a resident of Raipur Mandla village, and his associate Tejinder Singh, recovering a large cache of narcotics and Rs13 lakh in suspected drug proceeds.
The arrest was made during an interception operation near Mohali, where Singh was caught with 35 kg of poppy husk and Rs5 lakh in cash. Following the tip-off, the ANTF, led by in-charge Ram Darshan, conducted a series of follow-up raids on Singh’s home, farmhouse, and tile factory.
Massive Recoveries Included:
77 kg of cannabis
240 grams of opium
50 opium plants
Rs13 lakh in total cash
Four luxury vehicles: Toyota Fortuner, Innova Crysta, Chevrolet Cruze, and Toyota Etios
During interrogation, Singh admitted to sourcing cannabis from Bihar and poppy husk and opium from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand. He also provided information leading to the arrest of Tejinder Singh.
Both accused were booked under the NDPS Act and presented in court, with Dharmendra Singh being remanded to two days of police custody.
ANTF officials said the use of industrial premises, including tile factories and farms, to store and transport drugs is a growing concern, prompting enhanced surveillance in the area.
“This is a significant success in our ongoing efforts to combat narcotics trafficking. Investigations are continuing, and more arrests are expected,” said Ram Darshan, the ANTF team leader.
