After the recovery of 5.1 kg of heroin from Punjabi singer Harbir Singh Sohal, the Khanna police are all set to dismantle the international drug syndicate being operated from Australia and Canada.
Arrest of Sohal is being considered key to identify other associates involved in drug supply in the state, particularly in Khanna and other surrounding regions.
The entire investigation into the network is being looked after personally by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Khanna, Darpan Ahluwalia.
She told The Tribune that since two key players in the network, Jatinder Singh, alias Goldy, a native of Shahpur, Kharar, at present staying in Canada, and Gurjant Singh Janta, a native of Sohavi, Fatehgarh Sahib, now staying in Australia, had been operating the network from foreign lands. They had been managing the funding and operations of the syndicate while their associates such as Harbir Singh Sohal and others had been managing handling and delivery of drugs. In the international drug syndicate, the Khanna police have arrested four persons, Harbir Singh Sohal (29) of Bhindi Saidan, Amritsar, Sanjeev Kumar Sunny (35), Vishal (25) and Akshay Kumar (22), all three from Shimlapuri, Ludhiana, with the total recovery of 5.669 kg of heroin, Rs 1.60 lakh drug money, 10 gm of ICE drug, 30 cartridges, Toyota Etios car and a Mahindra Thar vehicle.
“These six persons, including the two hiding in Canada and Australia, are the key players but the police probe into the international drug syndicate has found that many foot soldiers or frontline workers have been recruited by the gang to distribute drugs and in lieu, they get commission. The police have already identified many of them and after verifying the role, anyone found involved in the drug chain will not be spared,” Dr Ahluwalia said.
She revealed that Sohal was said to be a close associate of slain gangster Jaipal Bhullar. In 2022, he was arrested by the Mohali police with illegal weapons and for running an extortion racket at the behest of foreign handlers. Gurjant is the handler of the NDPS supply chain. His aunt’s son Jassi Kharar and gangster Jaipal were neutralised in Kolkata in 2021. Both had been on the run after killing two assistant sub-inspectors in the Jagraon grain market.
Probe on to know who delivered heroin to Sohal
SSP Darpan Ahluwalia said 5 kg of heroin was delivered to singer Harbir Singh Sohal by some associates suspected to be at the behest of Gurjant Janta or Goldy and the police are investigating the matter by scanning mobile phone details and digital forensics.
