Punjab Police, joint operation with central agencies, arrested the kingpin, Simranjot Singh Sandhu, 487 kg cocaine smuggling case
Chandigarh, September 2024: In a significant breakthrough, the Punjab Police, in collaboration with central agencies, have arrested Simranjot Singh Sandhu, 30, the alleged kingpin behind the smuggling of 487 kg of cocaine in Germany. Sandhu, who was wanted for multiple drug-related offences in Europe, was apprehended following leads from two local drug smugglers arrested in June.
Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav confirmed Sandhu’s arrest on Saturday, labeling him the lynchpin of an international drug cartel. The arrest is seen as a major blow to the global narcotics network.
The arrest of Sandhu was the result of an investigation initiated after Punjab Police apprehended Beant Singh and Sukhdeep Singh with 1 kg of heroin on June 16. Information from these local drug smugglers led authorities to book Mandeep Singh, currently based in the USA, and Simranjot Singh Sandhu, who had been seeking heroin buyers in Punjab under Mandeep’s directions.
According to the DGP, Sandhu was deeply involved in smuggling drugs not only in India but also across European countries. He was reportedly orchestrating drug operations in Punjab while evading authorities in Germany, where he is wanted for several drug trafficking offences.
Inspector General of Police (IG) Headquarters, Dr. Sukhchain Singh Gill, shed light on Sandhu’s extensive drug network. Originally from Gokhuwal village in Batala, Sandhu had moved to Germany in 2002, where he initially worked as a taxi driver. Between March and June 2020, Sandhu stored and transported large quantities of illegal narcotics, including 487 kg of cocaine, 66 kg of marijuana, and 10 kg of hashish.
The drugs, supplied from Brazil and other South American countries, were smuggled into Germany through the port of Hamburg. Sandhu used the encrypted mobile application ‘Encrochat’ to communicate with his network, which was later uncovered by German authorities, leading to the unearthing of the smuggling operation.
Sandhu was convicted by a German court on February 28, 2022, and sentenced to eight years and six months in prison under the Narcotic Drugs Act. However, in July 2023, Sandhu fled Germany to Dubai, eventually making his way back to India in September 2023. Since then, he had been moving between different locations in Amritsar, Chandigarh, Rajasthan, and Moga to avoid arrest.
The Punjab Police finally apprehended Sandhu in a joint operation with central agencies from Bhaloor village in Moga, bringing an end to his months-long run from the law.
DGP Gaurav Yadav hailed the arrest as a critical success in the fight against international drug cartels. The Punjab Police, alongside central agencies, continue to work tirelessly to dismantle the drug networks that extend from South America to Europe and India.
With Sandhu’s arrest, authorities hope to further unravel the cartel’s operations and track down more associates involved in the global drug trade. Investigations are ongoing, and additional arrests are expected as authorities dig deeper into Sandhu’s drug network.
This article covers the arrest of Simranjot Singh Sandhu, highlighting his role in international drug trafficking and the joint efforts of Punjab Police and central agencies in curbing the narcotics trade.
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