Akshay Kumar Chhabra, a figure once known for his humble beginnings as a tea vendor in Ludhiana, is set to continue his incarceration in Dibrugarh Jail, Assam. This decision by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) aims to sever his ties with a sophisticated transnational heroin syndicate, the network of which was dismantled by the NCB’s Chandigarh Zonal Unit two years prior. Chhabra, identified as the kingpin of this operation, will remain in Assam until his numerous legal cases are adjudicated.
The NCB’s stance comes in the wake of the Punjab government’s recent invocation of the Transfer of Prisoners (Punjab Amendment) Act, 2025. This amendment, which received Presidential assent and was officially gazetted on April 21st of this year, introduced a new Section 3 (1-A) to the Transfer of Prisoners Act, 1950. This provision allows for the transfer of under-trial prisoners and detainees in circumstances deemed critical for state security, law and order maintenance, or the broader public interest. Such transfers, however, are contingent upon the mutual consent of both involved states and the approval of the relevant trial court.
Information reaching TahirRihat.com suggests that Chhabra’s continued detention in Dibrugarh is deemed essential by the NCB to ensure he is completely isolated from his criminal associates. Sources within the investigative agency have indicated that even while previously lodged in Punjab jails, Chhabra managed to orchestrate his drug network from behind bars. This was evidenced by the registration of three additional First Information Reports (FIRs) against him during his earlier periods of confinement. Notably, the Special Task Force (STF) had booked him for operating a drug racket directly from the Ludhiana Central Jail, where a mobile phone was recovered from his possession, which he was allegedly using to direct his operatives on the outside.
The NCB’s directive explicitly states that Chhabra’s continued detention in Dibrugarh is crucial to guarantee he is entirely cut off from his illicit network and deprived of any means or influence that could facilitate his ongoing criminal activities. The agency’s memo underscores the necessity of this measure to effectively dismantle the syndicate and prevent any resurgence of its operations. The move highlights the NCB’s commitment to a comprehensive strategy in combating large-scale drug trafficking, extending beyond mere arrests to include strategic incarceration designed to neutralize the operational capacity of key figures.
Chhabra’s trajectory from a modest tea stall in Ludhiana’s grain market to amassing properties valued at over Rs 100 crore in a mere three years is a stark illustration of his audacious and criminal ascent. His modus operandi involved sourcing heroin from Afghanistan and smuggling it into India concealed within 612 cans of tomato sauce and 350 bottles of juice, which were imported from Iran. His initial apprehension occurred at the Jaipur International Airport in November 2022, as he was attempting to flee to Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. This arrest marked the beginning of the unraveling of his extensive drug smuggling enterprise.
A three-member advisory board, operating under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, had previously ordered the one-year detention of Chhabra and two of his close associates, Jaspal Singh, also known as Goldy, and Balwinder Singh, referred to as Billa Havellian. These individuals are also being held in Dibrugarh Jail in connection with a massive heroin smuggling racket involving approximately 20,400 kilograms of the illicit substance. This operation spanned across Punjab, the Mundra port in Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, and Afghanistan, underscoring the transnational nature of the syndicate’s activities.
Goldy, who reportedly worked as a carpenter and was instrumental in constructing ingenious concealed compartments within cupboards and closets to hide the contraband, remains incarcerated in Dibrugarh alongside his alleged boss. Both individuals are being held as the NCB intensifies its efforts to permanently dismantle what is described as one of Punjab’s most dangerous drug networks. The agency’s focus extends to ensuring that the financial and logistical backbone of the syndicate is thoroughly disrupted, preventing any future attempts to re-establish operations.
Sources indicate that the NCB will pursue the necessary approvals from all relevant courts to facilitate Chhabra’s participation in his pending cases through virtual hearings. This arrangement will allow him to appear before the courts via video conferencing, thereby minimizing the logistical challenges associated with his physical presence while ensuring his continued engagement with the judicial process. The agency’s strategy emphasizes leveraging technology to maintain judicial oversight and progress in cases involving high-profile detainees, even when they are held in facilities far from the jurisdiction of the trial courts.
The case of Akshay Chhabra highlights the evolving tactics employed by drug syndicates and the corresponding counter-measures by law enforcement agencies. The use of seemingly innocuous items like tomato sauce cans for smuggling, coupled with the vast scale of the operation, points to a sophisticated and well-resourced criminal enterprise. The NCB’s decision to transfer and detain Chhabra in a facility outside Punjab is a strategic move aimed at disrupting his command and control over the network, a tactic that has proven effective in similar high-stakes investigations.
The ongoing legal proceedings and the NCB’s continued efforts to dismantle the entire network underscore the persistent threat posed by transnational drug trafficking to national security and public health. The agency’s meticulous approach, involving extensive intelligence gathering and coordinated operations across multiple states and international borders, is crucial in combating such complex criminal organizations. The detention of key figures like Chhabra in secure facilities, combined with virtual court appearances, represents a modern approach to managing such cases effectively.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.
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