Rajasansi Airport emerging as major transit route for drugs to Canada; about 26 kgs recovered in last six monthsRajasansi International Airport is fast gaining the dubious distinction of a transit point for drugs to Western countries, especially Canada. In the last six months, over 26 kilograms of heroin has been recovered from NRIs, who were trying to ferry it to Canada, where the drug is in high demand. The border town of Amritsar is a transit point in the drugs’ trade route, which originates from Afghanistan. The narcotics smuggled from Pakistan find their way to Indian metros, also through the city. Ever since the international flights started operating from here three years ago, the smugglers have made good use of the laxity of law enforcement agencies.Yesterday’s incident in which an NRI couple, Raminder Singh Nagra and Harjinder Kaur Nagram, was nabbed by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) with 3.7 kilograms of heroin is not an isolated case. The DRI had nabbed a Youth SAD leader, hailing from Jalandhar, with 23 kilograms of heroin six months ago, when he was about to board the Amritsar-Birmingham-Toronto flight. In 2006, the DRI nabbed another NRI, who was trying to smuggle 7 kilograms of heroin to Canada through the same flight. “Canada is emerging as a major market for drugs. From there, narcotics also enter the US. Due to bumper crop of opium in Afghanistan and its easy availability, smugglers have become very active and are using every possible way to mint money,” said an intelligence official.BS Sra, Chief Commissioner of the Customs Department, which has come under fire, admitted that twice the smugglers called the bluff of their staff. “Though we are always vigilant, but I do not deny some laxity on part of our employees who cleared the luggage yesterday,” he said, while not ruling out action against the guilty. “We will take extra precaution now,” Sra added.It was the DRI team, led by Ramesh Sharma, that promptly deplaned the couple and nabbed them minutes before the flight was to take off. Though the security is tight at the airport, the staff is less in number, ill-equipped and even ill-trained to detect drugs.“There are three x-ray machines to check luggage, but only two are in working condition. Besides, employees are not trained to spot the camouflaged drugs,” said sources. Meanwhile, the DRI today released Harjinder Kaur, saying that she was not involved in drug trade, and took Raminder Singh on a three-day remand.Dog squad mustA sniffer dogs’ squad is a must at the airport. Customs officials and Airport Director Arun Talwar claimed that they have requested the government for the squad, and would get it soon.
