Junkie shoots up

A Vancouver-based couple, Rajwinder Singh alias Raja and Paramjit Kaur were arrested with close to US$1 million worth of heroin near Zirakpur, four miles from Chandigarh in Punjab.

Police alleged they had carved false cavities in the bags and spread a layer of carbon in an attempt to dodge sniffer dogs and airport X-ray machines.

A Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) intercepted their vehicle near Zirakpur light point after collecting information about the two accused for the past one month, police said.

According to police, Paramjit Kaur first denied that the bags were hers, but later admitted to being their owner.

But she said that she had no idea about the contraband.

She was on her way to New Delhi airport to catch a flight to Canada when she was arrested.

NCB Chandigarh zonal director Shrikant Jadhav said: "We had information that some NRIs (non-resident Indians) who frequently shuttle between Canada and Jalandhar are involved in drug trafficking."

"Raja is one such traveler and appears to be a key man in the racket. We suspect his involvement in more such cases but concrete information would emerge only after his sustained interrogation," the official said.