The Faridabad police on Wednesday arrested Rakesh Singh, alias Rinku, a suspected interstate drug dealer who had been on the run for 19 years. Singh was apprehended in Ambala, where he had been living under a new identity and working as an auto rickshaw driver after evading authorities for nearly two decades.
In 2006, Singh, along with his associates Ranjit Singh and Lakhvir Singh, was involved in smuggling 200 kilograms of poppy husk. The consignment, which they had procured from another state, was intercepted by the police on GT Road near Navlu Colony, Sector 25, Ballabgarh. While Ranjit Singh was arrested at the scene, both Rakesh Singh and Lakhvir Singh managed to escape.
After Lakhvir was arrested later, Singh remained on the run and was eventually declared a proclaimed offender in 2007. His arrest followed an investigation into a different case, which led to the discovery of his location in Ambala.
Authorities believe Singh had been involved in ongoing drug smuggling operations over the years while staying under the radar, changing his identity and moving across various cities.
