Navi Mumbai ANC Cracks Down on Interstate Drug Network, Apprehends Punjab-Based Supplier
In a significant breakthrough, the Anti-narcotics Cell (ANC) of the Navi Mumbai crime branch has successfully arrested a major drug supplier from Amritsar, Punjab, disrupting a sophisticated narcotics trafficking operation. The accused was actively transporting substantial quantities of heroin and opium to Navi Mumbai via road transport, utilizing a network of drug peddlers to distribute the illicit substances.
Major Seizure and Arrest Details
ANC Senior Inspector Sandeep Nigade confirmed that the arrested individual, identified as Saheb Singh alias Sabha Joginder Singh (38), was taken into custody on January 26. At the time of his arrest, the police team confiscated heroin valued at approximately Rs 7 lakh from his possession. This arrest marks a critical milestone in an ongoing investigation into a widespread drugs cartel operating in the region.
Joginder Singh was a wanted figure in five separate First Information Reports (FIRs) filed under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. These cases were registered at multiple police stations across Navi Mumbai, including APMC, CBD-Belapur, NRI Coastal, Kalamboli, and Taloja. His apprehension is part of a larger crackdown that has led to the arrest of 28 individuals connected to the cartel to date.
Extensive Drug Haul and Investigation Insights
The cumulative value of drugs seized in this operation totals around Rs 3.5 crore, encompassing both heroin and opium. Following his arrest, Joginder Singh was remanded to police custody until January 31 to facilitate further interrogation and evidence gathering.
Senior Inspector Nigade elaborated on the investigative process, stating, "Our probe into the drugs racket in Navi Mumbai revealed that heroin was being sourced from Punjab and supplied to Maharashtra, with the primary supplier based in Amritsar." The investigation leveraged technical expertise to uncover that Singh was receiving payments for drug supplies directly into his personal bank account through online transactions.
Challenges and Technical Breakthroughs in the Manhunt
Capturing Singh proved to be a formidable challenge for the ANC team. They made three separate trips to Punjab in pursuit of the accused, but he consistently evaded detection by frequently changing his mobile phone and SIM card. However, persistent technical analysis eventually enabled the police to identify details associated with four different mobile phones used by Singh, leading to his successful apprehension.
Further background checks revealed that Joginder Singh is a history-sheeter with a prior criminal record. He faces NDPS cases registered against him at the Tarantran police station in Amritsar in 2019 and the Gharinda police station in 2016, underscoring his long-standing involvement in narcotics-related activities.
This operation highlights the ANC's commitment to combating drug trafficking through coordinated efforts and advanced investigative techniques, aiming to curb the flow of illegal substances into Navi Mumbai and surrounding areas.
