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Punjab Police dig deep into drug racket

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Press Trust of India Chandigarh
Two days after Arjuna awardee Jagdish Singh alias Bhola and his four aides were arrested for their alleged involvement in a synthetic drug racket, Punjab Police today claimed to have obtained several operational leads from the accused.

The interrogation of Bhola has thrown more light on the activities of the decorated wrestler-turned-police officer- turned-drug lord, according to the Patiala police.

The operational leads are being developed further to completely uncover the racket, they said.

Police said Bhola, known as "Kingkong" in the wrestling circle, had shown an interest in acting and had acted in a Punjabi film "Rustam-i-Hind", which was made on his life.
 

"Interrogation has revealed the involvement of African nationals as couriers for taking drug consignments from Chandigarh to New Delhi," a police officer said.

The names of three African nationals have come up during the interrogation and further investigations are on, the officer said.

Police also claimed that Bhola had stayed in Panjim, Goa for some time while he was on the run since Punjab Police raided his Mohali residence.

"He wanted to invest his drug money in hotel business in Goa and is reported to have shown interest in purchasing a hotel for Rs 16 crore on a beach there," the officer said.

Bhola had learnt manufacturing synthetic drugs like ICE (M-amphetamine) from precursor chemicals like ephedrine, pseudo-ephedrine etc. From the Chinese and Vietnam nationals and had gradually mastered it, he said.

Bhola and his four associates -- Sarabjit Singh alias Saba, Harpreet Singh alias Happy, Baljinder Singh and Ravinder Singh -- were arrested on Monday from a dhaba on GT Road near Haryana's Murthal, about 50 km from New Delhi.

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First Published: Nov 13 2013 | 9:19 PM IST

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