India’s Directorate of Revenue Intelligence is investigating NRIs linked with drug trade
Surrey: India is the transit hub, Surrey is the destination. We are not talking about any travel itinerary. That is drug peddlers’ favorite itinerary according to sources in Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) of India. According to the sources in DRI India, drugs, primarily Heroin, consignments are sent from Afghanistan to India via Pakistan to route them to Canada.
Heroin is being smuggled to India via Punjab border from Pakistan. Then it is being sent to Canada through their modules and in Canada the favorite destination of peddlers is Surrey. DRI has vital clues and is investigating people involved in the nexus.
DRI sources reveal that organizers of a Kabaddi tournament which was annually being organized in Jalandhar in the month of February are under scanner. The officer told that they have leads that some consignments had been sent to Canada using players or team members as a courier who participated in this tournament. DRI team in Punjab region is investigating several other Kabaddi tournaments, where NRI promoters are involved.
A religious leader who is Canadian resident and hails from a village in Jalandhar, Punjab is also involved in routing of heroin. DRI is trying to nab him. DRI is keeping close eye on this person along with one of his associate. This associate owns a music company in Jalandhar city. The source also told that this religious leader has high profile links with politicians and Punjab police officers.
In past, DRI ceased several consignments which were meant to be sent to Surrey or had links with the city. They even nabbed a consignment of heroin which was being sent in Holy books and religious CD covers by a famous publisher of Amritsar. A Punjab police officer disclosed that they have been ordered to be on high alert for drug smuggling cases. Punjab police issued lookout circular (LOC) for 10 NRIs who are involved in drug trading. In this list, NRI players, managers and promoters are included who are involved in drug trafficking from Punjab to Canada and Europe. This LOC was issued just before 2013 Kabaddi World Cup. In total Punjab police identified 40 NRIs who frequently visited Punjab during Kabaddi seasons in Punjab and they are investigating those NRIs. Our source has informed us that now these NRIs are keeping a low profile and have avoided going to India for past two years.
