Amritsar police bust hawala racket, arrest five including Ludhiana cop

The Amritsar city police commissionerate has busted a hawala racket being operated from a USA-based drug peddler and gangster through a Haryana-based dry fruit trader, who was among the five persons, including a Ludhiana cop, arrested in this connection. They have also confiscated Rs 46.91 lakh hawala money from their possession.

Those arrested include Rajanjot Singh alias Rajan of Kamla Avenue on Fatehgarh Churian Road, Gurpreet Singh alias Gora of Mahawa border village, Harmeet Singh of Sadar quarters in Amritsar, Navjot Singh of Max City on Ram Tirath Road, a constable posted at Ludhiana, and Anil Saini, a dry fruit trader from Bhawani, Haryana.

Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said that the racket was busted following investigations into the seizure of 1 kg of heroin from a smuggler, Satnam Singh, 10 days ago. According to the probe, the accused were transferring drug money through a hawala network in exchange for heroin consignments being supplied from Pakistan via drones.

“Satnam (26), a resident of Chhina village under the Lopoke police station, was arrested on April 9 with 1 kg heroin. Based on his disclosure, the police arrested Rajanjot Singh, Gurpreet Singh, and Anil Saini, who was running a hawala racket under the guise of dry fruit trade,” said Bhullar. Later, based on Gurpreet Singh’s disclosure, the police nabbed Navjot Singh and Harmeet Singh.

The accused used to exchange money by taking a photo of Rs 10 and Rs 20 currency note numbers and verifying the same through social media apps. “During interrogation of Anil Saini, Navjot Singh, and Harmeet Singh, it was revealed that they were in contact with USA-based drug smuggler Joban Kaler and gangster Gopi Chhogawan, who were behind the entire cartel,” the police commissioner said. With this, the city police have successfully dismantled the nexus between narcotics and hawala money.

Further investigations are underway to ascertain the total quantity of narcotics purchased by the accused and to expose the complete network of suppliers, dealers, and buyers.

Amritsar