Three men were arrested on Monday for allegedly supplying opium from Bangladesh to Punjab, the police said on Tuesday. Contraband worth ₹1.5 crore was seized from the accused, they said.
The accused have been identified as Alam Sheikh (26), the carrier of the drugs; Shakeel (45), a transporter; and Jasvinder (32), the receiver.
The Crime Branch had received a tip-off regarding the arrival of the accused near Majnu Ka Tilla in a truck with a huge consignment of opium on Monday. The accused were arrested, and 15 kg of opium and the truck was seized.
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During interrogation, the accused revealed that the syndicate was run by Malda resident Ibrahim, who procured the opium from Bangladesh and Jharkhand, and supplied it across Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Punjab, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Bhisham Singh.
Alam was in desperate need of money as his father suffers from a heart ailment. About four-five months back, he came in contact with Ibrahim, who was looking for a carrier for the drugs. Alam was assured of ₹10,000 per trip with Shakeel, the transporter. Shakeel went to Saudi Arabia in 2008 and worked there as a truck driver. He returned to India in 2014.
Using his earnings from Saudi Arabia, Shakeel purchased a truck and started a transport business. During this period, he came in contact with Ibrahim, who lured him into the drug business with a promise of ₹20,000 per trip, said the officer.
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The third accused owns a dhaba on Shamli-Karnal Road, where many truck drivers who consume opium stop regularly. Jasvinder came in contact with Shakeel nearly three years ago. Due to profits, the accused started purchasing opium from Ibrahim and selling it truck drivers. He also started supplying it to his contacts in Punjab and Haryana, added Mr. Singh.