AMRITSAR: In "biggest-ever" haul, Amritsar customs on Sunday claimed that it seized 532kg of heroin along with another 52kg of suspected mixed narcotics from India’s first Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari .

According to officials, the value of the seized narcotics is around Rs 2,600 crore in the international market.

While talking to media persons here on Sunday, customs commissioner Dipak Kumar Gupta said that during a routine check of rock salt granules coming from Pakistan , officials became suspicious of the consignment and upon a detailed examination of 600 bags, they found 15 bags containing heroin which was confirmed during preliminary testing kit of NDPS.

He added that during the preliminary investigation, they found involvement of Tariq Ahmad Lone, a resident of Handwara in Jammu and Kashmir. He further said that the value of consignment could be between Rs 2,500 to Rs 2,600 crore.

He also informed that the importer of the rock salt in Amritsar was Gurpinder Singh of Kanisham Enterprises, Hussainpura area of Amritsar. “He has not been arrested but the process is in progress,” he said.

The Pakistani driver who had brought the consignment to India was allowed to go back to Pakistan without questioning.

“As par protocol, the driver has to go back by 12 pm after unloading the goods,” he said.

However, sources claimed that such a large quantity of heroin could have not been even attempted to be smuggled into India without involvement of ‘politically connected influential persons.

“This is one of the ever biggest seizures of heroin by any Indian agency along the Indo-Pak Border” claimed Dipak.

He informed that they had also conducted searches at different places in Amritsar.

