The Union Home Minister’s Special Operations Medal-2023 has been awarded to 14 officials of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) who were part of the team that busted an international drug syndicate in November 2022. The network, being run from Ludhiana in Punjab, had its roots in Dubai, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
During the operation, in which 19 accused were arrested, the agency unearthed two laboratories being used to process heroin in Ludhiana. Among those arrested were two Afghan heroin processing experts and criminals linked to one Jaggu Bhagwan Puria gang. The NCB also seized about 40 kg of heroin, 0.6 kg of opium, and other articles.
