NRIs’ hand in drug trafficking exposed

Jalandhar, July 18
Recent investigations by the Jalandhar (Rural) police has revealed that a good number of NRI-sponsored youth festivals, sports events and charity shows in Punjab are being used as a cover to smuggle narcotics to foreign shores.
The revelation has been made by Harjinder Singh, who, along with his sister, was caught carrying 1.5 kg of a highly refined derivative of heroin on July 2. The recovered contraband, nicknamed “ICE”, is worth Rs 15 crore in the market, said a police officer.
For the past few years, the drug was procured by notorious drug traffickers lodged in various Indian prisons through their contacts in neighbouring countries. The consignments would be delivered to them by separate “carriers”.
During police remand, Harjinder reportedly confessed to receiving orders from NRI customers well in advance of sports or charity events hosted by them. Code words like “shirts-blazers”, “chakla belna” and “portraits” were used to indicate the drug quantity, he said.
“The consignments are delivered to NRIs in the collar and cuffs of shirts/blazers. Another method is to pack it in thick wooden photo frames,” said the officer.
“Such drugs cannot be scanned by X-rays at airports. By packing the consignments in bulky luggage bags, the smugglers also escape being caught by sniffer dogs.”
PK Tikoo, Assistant Commissioner, Customs and incharge of the anti-smuggling wing at the Amritsar International Airport, said:
“Powdered drugs can’t be detected by scanners. Smart packing techniques help the smugglers to dodge the sniffer dogs too. Without intelligence inputs, most traffickers usually manage to get through,” said Tikoo.
It has been revealed that Harjinder is merely a link in a chain of modules operating in the state.
HKS Khakh, DSP, said more facts were expected to emerge following further investigations.