Two drug smugglers with Pakistan links arrested

Chandigarh : The police have arrested two drug smugglers from Tarn Taran and recovered contacts of about 130 Pakistan-based smugglers from their mobile phones.
An official spokesperson said Sukhbir Singh alias Titu of Naushera Dhalla village in Tarn Taran district and Tasveer Singh alias Tassu of Dhanoya Kalan in Amritsar district — both in their sixties — were nabbed last evening. About 6-kg heroin, a Pakistani SIM card, two rifles and a motorcycle were recovered from them. Both used to procure drugs and other contraband from across the border through Pakistani and Indian couriers, the spokesperson said.
Sukhbir’s phone directory lists the numbers of Dogar Iftrwaha, Asghar Chowdhary, Baadi Hazi, Bagga and Naini Narowal and others involved in cross-border smuggling.
The spokesperson said Sukhbir was using Pakistani SIM cards of Zong telecom service to maintain contact with his Pakistani accomplices. Sukhbir told the police that he was earlier involved in gold smuggling. Sukhbir and his two accomplices were earlier convicted and awarded 10-year imprisonment for attacking police officers and carrying heroin as well as fake Indian currency. The police said Sukhbir had fired at a police party led by Snehdeep Sharma, then DSP, Ludhiana, in 2003. Tasveer was caught in Pakistan in 1979 with 100 gold biscuits and was lodged in Lahore jail.