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Punjab Drug Money Laundering Network | Report Scams

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courtIllegal Betting / Money LaunderingPunjab

Punjab Drug Money Laundering Network

The Punjab Police, in joint operations with central agencies and as part of the anti-drug campaign 'Yudh Nashian Virudh', cracked down on international arms, narcotics, and hawala networks operating across borders. Investigators alleged that these syndicates were involved in supplying illegal firearms, trafficking drugs, and moving illicit funds through hawala channels.

State

Punjab

First reported

June 2022

Amount alleged

₹5,000+ Cr (alleged)

Agency involved

Amritsar Commissionerate Police, Punjab Police, and central agencies

Arrests

7 arrested in Amritsar; 73 hawala operators arrested statewide in recent drives

Assets frozen

Worth more than Rs 830 crore under Section 68F of the NDPS Act

Status

Ongoing statewide drives and further investigations underway

The full story

Everything you need to know about this case, in one place.

During specific operations in Amritsar, authorities arrested seven individuals, including an Afghan national and a juvenile, and seized sophisticated weapons, 5.048 kilograms of heroin, and ₹30.38 lakh in suspected proceeds. Police stated that the network was allegedly directed by foreign-based handlers and a Pakistan-based smuggler who recruited young individuals into illegal activities.

Statewide efforts expanded to target financial networks sustaining narcotics trafficking. According to police reports, hundreds of hawala operators have been targeted, with tens of millions of rupees in drug proceeds seized and assets worth hundreds of crores frozen under the NDPS Act since 2022. Further investigations are underway to trace international links and additional beneficiaries.

Not yet reported: The articles do not specify the final judicial outcomes or court sentences for the arrested individuals.

Where the case stands

The latest position in the reports we read.

Police have launched statewide crackdowns, arrested dozens of alleged hawala operators, frozen assets worth over Rs 830 crore, and continue investigations to identify more network members.

Who was affected

Described in general terms; we do not name victims.

The general public and youth in Punjab targeted by recruitment into cross-border drug and weapons syndicates.

Timeline

Key dates as reported, oldest first.

Since 2022Police began freezing assets under Section 68F of the NDPS Act.

Since March 1Police recovered more than Rs 20 crore in drug proceeds from accused persons.

Recent operationsAmritsar Police arrested seven people, including an Afghan national and a juvenile, seizing weapons, heroin, and ₹30.38 lakh.

How the scam worked

The method described in the reports.

Foreign-based handlers recruited young individuals by luring them into illegal activities to manage cross-border supply chains.
Syndicates smuggled illegal firearms and narcotics across the border into Punjab.
Illegally generated funds from drug trafficking were moved and laundered through unauthorized hawala channels.

Targeted by something similar?

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Sources and further reading

Optional. The full story is above; these are the original reports it was prepared from.

punjabnewsline.comOriginal report tribuneindia.comOriginal report timesofindia.indiatimes.comOriginal report Primary source / searchOpens via Google News ED arrests narcotics smuggler linked to Rs 89 crore seizures in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana - FM BharatFM Bharat · 22 Sept 2026

Prepared by Report Scams, with the help of AI, from the published reports listed above. Check those reports for the latest. Cases here describe allegations. An FIR, arrest or charge is not a finding of guilt. To report a mistake, or to ask for a correction or removal, write to our Grievance Officer. See also the Safe Posting policy.