532 kg heroin worth ₹2,700 cr smuggled from Pak, seized near Amritsar | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

532 kg heroin worth 2,700 cr smuggled from Pak, seized near Amritsar

Amritsar | ByPress Trust of India
Jun 30, 2019 09:36 PM IST

The seizure of 532 kg of the drug was an all-time high, Commissioner, Customs, Dipak Kumar Gupta told reporters.

In its biggest ever narcotics haul, the Customs Department seized 532 kg of suspected heroin worth 2,700 crore, which was smuggled into India from Pakistan in a truck through trade route at the Attari border, officials said Sunday.

Two people - Tariq Ahmed Lone belonging to Jammu and Kashmir’s Handwara and the other from Amritsar - were arrested.(PTI File photo)
Two people - Tariq Ahmed Lone belonging to Jammu and Kashmir’s Handwara and the other from Amritsar - were arrested.(PTI File photo)

An official said the smuggling racket’s alleged mastermind, based in Kashmir valley, has been arrested and the importer of the rock salt consignment, who is based in Amritsar, has been detained for questioning.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The consignment of heroin and another 52 kg of suspected mixed narcotics was concealed under hundreds of bags of rock salt inside the truck which arrived at Attari through the Integrated Check Post (ICP) two days ago, Customs (Preventive) Commissioner Deepak Kumar Gupta said.

“In a major breakthrough in busting the international organised drug smuggling, the Customs Preventive Commissionerate, Amritsar has seized 532 kg of suspected heroin and 52 kg of suspected mixed narcotics in the import consignment at ICP, Attari,” he said.

“This is the biggest ever achievement in annals of the Indian Customs history,” he told a press conference here.

Tariq Ahmed, the mastermind of the organised smuggling racket based in Handwara, Kashmir, has been arrested with the help of Jammu and Kashmir police, Gupta said, adding that further investigations is underway.

“We are also questioning the importer of the consignment of rock salt,” he said.

The import consignment from Pakistan had arrived here two days ago and the truck driver had returned after unloading it.

Before clearing a consignment, the Customs Department carries out its detailed checking and examination.

On Saturday, at about 1330 hours, during examination of the consignment by customs staff at ICP, Attari, one sack was found containing white coloured powder substance.

On a detailed examination of 600 bags, 15 were suspected to contain narcotics. On further examination, all 15 bags were found to contain heroin with a net weight of 532 kg and mixed narcotics of 52 kg, Gupta said.

“The value of heroin in the international market is approximately 2,700 crore,” he said.

The heroin was seized under provisions of the Customs Act and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, Gupta said.

“This is one of the biggest seizures of heroin by Indian agency along the Indo-Pakistan border... It is the biggest success of Customs Preventive Commissionerate, Amritsar against organised smuggling of narcotics including heroin along Indo-Pakistan border through trade route,” he said.

Unveiling Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Election 2024, Arvind Kejriwal News Live, Bihar Board 10th Result 2024 Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On