Latest news with #Lalli
Hans India
17-05-2025
- Hans India
85 kg heroin seized in PB
Chandigarh: In the biggest drug seizure of this year, Punjab Police busted a cross-border ISI-controlled and narco-smuggling module operated by UK-based drug handler Lalli, police said on Friday. Director General of Police, Gaurav Yadav, said that police have arrested Lalli's India-based operative, Amarjot Singh, alias Jota Sandhu, a resident of Bhittewad village Amritsar district, and recovered 85 kg heroin from his possession. Amarjot was receiving consignments from Pakistan-based smugglers and supplying drugs across Punjab. His residence served as a major stash point for the network, said DGP Yadav. A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered, and further investigations are ongoing to trace backward and forward linkages. 'We are actively pursuing leads and expect more arrests and recoveries in the coming days,' added DGP Yadav. With the state's ongoing war against drugs 'Yudh Nashian Virudh' entering the 75th day on Thursday, the police conducted cordon and search operations (CASOs) at bus stands across the state. Special Director General of Police, Law and Order, Arpit Shukla, who was personally monitoring this state-level operation, said suspicious people were checked during the operation conducted at all the bus stands in the state. Besides, police teams have continued their drive against drugs and conducted raids at 486 locations, leading to the arrest of 124 drug smugglers after registration of 83 FIRs across the state. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached 11,208 within 75 days.
Hindustan Times
17-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
85kg heroin haul: Accused's house served as stash point for drugs
The accused Amarjot Singh alias Jota, a resident of Bhittewad village in Amritsar district, from which a stash of 85kg heroin was recovered is an addict and was working on the directions of his UK-based drug handler Lalli, police said on Friday. Tarn Taran police, which is investigating the case, said his main task was to collect the small consignments sent via drones from across the border and then deliver it further as directed by Lalli. He is basically a storekeeper. His house at Bhittewad village served as a stash point for the network, police added. According to information gathered from Tarn Taran Police, the consignment used to arrive from Pakistan in small quantities via drones. The main accused's task was to collect and store it. A preliminary probe has pointed out that the reason behind collecting the small quantities to store at the place was that the peddlers wanted to sell the stash when the demand was at its peak. The police's campaign against drugs has already choked the supply and the accused anticipated that when the demand will peak, they will sell the stash for huge profit,' said Tarn Taran SSP Abhimanyu Rana. Rana said that Jota, a pharmacist, was just a cog in the network and the police probe is on to bust the entire module. 'The biggest problem for the police in the ongoing probe is that UK-based smuggler Lalli, who was handling Jota, is not a known smuggler. We are still hunting for his details, address and linkages in Punjab and Pakistan. Detailed probe is on. Special teams are closely working on it. The mobile phone of the accused has also been sent for forensic examination,' the SSP added.
United News of India
16-05-2025
- United News of India
85 kg heroin worth Rs 595 crore recovered, one arrested
Amritsar, May 16 (UNI) Punjab police on Friday claimed to have busted a cross-border, ISI-controlled Pakistan- based narco-smuggling module operated by UK-based drug handler Lalli and arrested his India-based operative, Amarjot Singh alias Jota Sandhu, and recovered 85 kg heroin worth Rs 595 crore. DGP Gaurav Yadav said in an X post that Amarjot was receiving consignments from cross-border smugglers and supplying drugs across Punjab. He said Amarjot's residence served as a major stash point for the network. The DGP said that an FIR has been registered and further investigations were on to trace vital linkages. Yadav said the police were actively pursuing leads and expect more arrests and recoveries in the coming days. UNI GS PRS
New Indian Express
16-05-2025
- New Indian Express
Punjab Police bust UK-run cross-border drug module; seize 85kg heroin
CHANDIGARH: In the biggest drug seizure of 2025, Punjab Police have busted a cross-border, Pakistan-ISI-controlled narco-smuggling module operated by a UK-based drug handler named Lalli, with the arrest of his India-based operative and the recovery of 85 kg of heroin from his possession. Director General of Police, Punjab, Gaurav Yadav, said here today that the arrested operative, identified as Amarjot Singh alias Jota Sandhu, was using his residence at Bhittewad village in Amritsar as a major stash point for the network. He said the accused Amarjot was working on behalf of his UK-based drug handler, Lalli and was receiving drug consignments from cross-border smugglers, who were using drones to transport the contraband. The probe has also revealed that the accused Amarjot collected heroin consignments from various border points and distributed them to local suppliers to further supply in different areas of Punjab, he added. Yadav said, 'Further investigations are going on to establish backward and forward linkages in this case. More arrests and recoveries are likely in the coming days.'
Economic Times
11-05-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
ETMarkets Smart Talk: Logistics, retail, green energy set to soar under India-UK FTA, says Charles Russell Speechlys' Kim Lalli
As the long-awaited India-UK Free Trade Agreement edges closer to finalisation, optimism is running high across key industries. Kim Lalli, Partner at international law firm Charles Russell Speechlys and head of its India Desk, calls the FTA a 'game-changer' that is poised to unlock vast opportunities for cross-border collaboration. In an exclusive interaction on ETMarkets Smart Talk segment, Lalli outlines how sectors like logistics, retail, and green energy are best positioned to benefit from reduced tariffs, simplified regulations, and enhanced market access. With 99% of India's exports set to become duty-free and increased mobility for professionals, the agreement promises to strengthen economic and strategic ties between two of the world's largest economies. Edited Excerpts –A) Reductions in tariffs across various sectors and a commitment to easing barriers to trade can only be beneficial for both countries – we foresee greater collaboration in various fields, including the retail, automotives, logistics, pharma and health sectors. A) It is most definitely a game-changer. India and the UK have for many years had a strong trading partnership. India is the second largest investor in the UK in terms of number of projects, a position that the nation has held for five consecutive years, and Indian companies such as Tata employ huge numbers of people in the UK (Tata itself employs around 8000). This FTA will give companies on both sides greater confidence in moving forward with investment and collaboration with each other. The UK has also been a significant investor in India over the years, and we expect greater investment in sectors such as technology, renewable energy, and India, a significant percentage of Indian exports to the UK will become duty-free – 99% according to the UK Government. This benefits a range of sectors and products, including apparel, textiles, leather goods and frozen shrimp. India's service exports are also likely to increase, benefitting sectors such as FTA eases some of the tax requirements for Indian workers, which will aid mobility of personnel working for Indian mobility will help companies on both sides of the fence to move faster in taking advantage of the opportunities now opened for them. Some of the tariff reductions are on a sliding scale so the benefit increases over time. A) Logistics, infrastructure, green energy and retail. There is always a significant amount of excitement and enthusiasm in these sectors and business and investors are more than ready to seize on new opportunities. A) Greater levels of trade will be facilitated for India, which in all likelihood will assist in making up shortfalls that may result from US tariffs. This is a big step in changing India's approach to global trade. A) There is already huge interest on the part of Western brands – we see this increasing as companies have greater confidence in the commitment made by both countries to open each other's markets more fully. A) As well as the immediate benefits of the FTA such as reductions on tariffs, another important aspect is what it says about the intentions of both and the UK are giving a strong signal to the market around how they view each other and want to continue working together in the future. That is is likely to give businesses, individuals and investors confidence in moving to the India market, and see such a move as less of a risk. A) This is a major step for both countries in strengthening their relationship. They are respectively numbers five and six in terms of the largest economies in the world (with some estimates even putting India above Japan at number four) and in times of geopolitical uncertainty, standing together on various issues will boost the impact of both countries' responses. The two countries have a lot in common, and businesses from each side have been successfully operating in each other's countries for decades. A) As mentioned, the FTA will give individuals, businesses and investors greater confidence and stability, and sends a clear signal to the market that the UK and India plan to continue developing their relationship for years to come. Wherever there is uncertainty and volatility, deals tend to be delayed or rethought. Conversely, with greater confidence and stability comes greater appetite for FTA certainly has the potential to have a positive effect on both inbound and outbound M&A activity. A) Yes, we believe it could and will. We see such brands already on Indian roads, even at a time when customs duties are substantial, so a lowering of duties will only increase the appetite for such brands. A) Having noted the demand for premium liquor in India on my frequent visits (and India's own growing offering in this regard), I think the demand will be stimulated. (Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by experts are their own. These do not represent the views of the Economic Times)
