Now NRIs get into the drug racket

CHANDIGARH: Punjab NRIs have been known for bringing prosperity  to the state. However, on Tuesday when two Canada-based NRIs were arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) for carrying four kg of heroin, it earned them a dubious distinction of being hand-in-glove with smugglers.

NCB zonal director Srikanth Jadav said for the first time NRIs has been found to be involved in the drug trade. Both the accused, Rajvinder Singh and Paramjit Kaur, had come from Canada last month with the purpose of transporting the consignment. Rajwinder works in a saw mill in Vancouver whereas Paramjit Kaur is employed in a store.

Jadav said they collected the consignment from a border town and were going to deliver it to Toronto.

The duo was intercepted near Patiala while on their way to New Delhi. Interrogations revealed that a well-organised gang of Punjab NRIs has been engaged in smuggling heroin from Punjab to Canada for the last few months. The kingpin of the gang is based in Doab and Majha region of the state.

Punjab has lately become a major hub for heroin smuggling, which involves foreigners. NCB officials said a consignment of 35 kg of heroin seized in Delhi last week had also been routed through Punjab. In the last six months the NCB has seized more than 60 kg of heroin in Punjab and arrested five foreign nationals. Jadhav said there was a possibility that the NRIs had been in touch with international smugglers in Pakistan.