Punjab Police’s ANTF arrests drug inspector in drug smuggling case

The Punjab Police’s Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) has arrested Shishan Mittal, a drug inspector accused of helping jailed smugglers expand their drug network outside jail. His arrest is a major breakthrough in Punjab’s ongoing war on drugs. The crackdown comes amid intensified efforts to dismantle illegal drug operations in the state, which continue to ravage communities and fuel criminality.

“The police teams of ANTF, led by Special DGP Kuldeep Singh, have arrested narcotics inspector Shishan Mittal of Aerocity from SAS Nagar (Mohali),” Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said on Friday.

DGP Yadav alleged that Mittal’s involvement went beyond regulatory failures. He said the drug inspector was closely associated with a network that traded in illegal pharmaceutical products, operated through medical shops and laundered large sums of money from the drug trade through Good evening accounts that were in the names of his family members.

Police, using advanced technical surveillance and human intelligence, conducted multiple raids in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh, leading to the recovery of Rs 7.09 crores in 24 bank accounts linked to Mittal. In addition, cash, foreign currency and two bank lockers were seized during these operations.

Mittal’s criminal activities were not limited to financial crimes. Initial investigations revealed that he actively worked with jailed drug smugglers to conduct their activities outside prison walls. His frequent, unauthorized foreign travels raised further suspicions as he was caught traveling abroad without official permission or applying for the required ex-India leave. This activity points to his deeper involvement in transnational drug trafficking networks, which likely helped orchestrate large-scale deals.

The strategic and timely action of the ANTF was lauded by the DGP, who stressed that such arrests show the commitment of the police to dismantle the drug mafia. He also confirmed that more investigations are underway as the full extent of Mittal’s complicity is unfolding.

The gravity of the matter was heightened when Mittal’s anticipatory bail plea was recently rejected by a local court. This rejection is indicative of the seriousness of the charges under which Mittal has been arrested, including Section 29 – conspiracy or abetting to commit offences relating to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances; and 59 – a public servant who wilfully aids or abets drug smugglers, or neglects their duties in enforcing drug laws, is liable to severe punishment, including imprisonment under the NDPS Act; and Section 111 – Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) organised crime.

Special DGP Kuldeep Singh gave more insight into the financial scale of Mittal’s activities. Seized assets include Rs 1.49 crore in cash, 260 grams of gold and 515 dirhams. Properties amassed with the proceeds of his illegal activities were also discovered, such as apartments worth Rs two crore in Zirakpur and a plot of land worth Rs 40 lakh in Dabwali, indicating the sheer scale of his profits through smuggling networks.

Mittal’s arrest marks a major victory in Punjab’s fight against drug cartels, and sends a strong message that even those in positions of power and responsibility will be held accountable for their role in perpetuating the drug trade. The ANTF continues to investigate Mittal’s wider network, and more arrests are expected soon.