LUDHIANA: The Ludhiana unit of Special Task Force (STF) nabbed four men, including a former sarpanch, with 5.39kg heroin worth Rs 27 crore, three illegal weapons with live cartridges, Rs 21 lakh drug money and eight high-end cars.
According to STF, these smugglers are a part of an international organised drug network being operated from Australia.
The arrested accused are identified as Gurdeep Singh Rano, a former sarpanch of Rano village in Payal area, Ravej of Mahavir Colony, Iqal Singh of Payal area and Randeep Singh of Khanna. STF officials said Gurdeep was the main smuggler, who owned all the high-end cars and made a lot of property by smuggling drugs.
IG (STF) Balkar Singh said the seized weapons were a .315 bore rifle with cartridges, 12 bore pump action gun and .32 bore revolver with cartridges. Eight cars seized from Gurdeep were a Toyota Fortuner, Audi Q7, two Toyota Innova cars, two BMW cars, one Mercedes Benz and one Jaguar.
The official said the accused are a part of a high-level international organised drug network being run by Tanveer Singh Bedi of Barnala settled in Australia. Tanveer is also wanted by the STF Border Range in 197.8 kg heroin seizure of January 29, 2020.
On October 29, Ludhiana STF had recovered 28kg heroin and 6kg ice drug. Tanveer was wanted in that case too. All these consignments belonged to the same network headed by Tanveer.
A Special Task Force official said Gurdeep is a highprofile person who has good relations with politicians too.
He had hired some bouncers too. He used to smuggle drugs in the high-end cars as police did not stop these vehicles at checkposts. Further Special Task Force is also checking the properties owned by the accused.