NRI Arrested in Ludhiana for Allegedly Possessing Heroin

A New Jersey-based Non-Resident Indian was arrested by the Ludhiana police after two kg of heroin, estimated to be worth Rs 10 crore, was allegedly found in his possession.

The arrest took place on Jan. 20 at Malak Chowk in Jagraon, the Times of India reported. Amarjit Singh, 58, hails from Mukanpur village and lives with his wife and two daughters in New Jersey. The heroin was said to have been found hidden under the driver’s seat in a car that was seized by the police, according to the Tribune.

Singh migrated to the United States in 1988 with his family, the police said, adding that he later came to the country to make some quick money and started drug peddling. He would travel to India quite often and make money here, following which he would go back to the United States and live off that money. Singh allegedly brought heroin from Jammu and Kashmir, and supplied the contraband in Punjab.

Senior Superintendent of Ludhiana Police Surjit Singh said that they received a tip-off regarding Singh outside Malak village following which he was arrested. The police said that a checkpost was set up to carry out inspections, where they noticed a white car heading from Malak village. However, the driver immediately tried to turn the car back as soon as he saw the police. When the police chased the car, three people came out of the vehicle and made a dash towards the fields. The team seized the car and its driver Singh and found the contraband in the car.

“In 2016, the accused went to Jammu and Kashmir to get a consignment of heroin and was arrested by Gangyal police of J&K, along with his accomplices Muhammad Rafiq, Muhammad Saif, and Nassar Ahmed. He was booked under relevant sections. After getting bail in that case, he continued smuggling heroin,” SSP Singh said, TOI reported. He added that Amarjit was peddling drugs for the last six years and his arrest meant that a supply chain of contraband like heroin that was entering Punjab has been busted.

According to the police, Singh owned the biggest house in the village, along with 45 acres of land. He also ran a travel agency and the police found passports and travel tickets of a couple of people from his office.