Chandigarh, April 9 Five police officers in Tarn Taran, Punjab, have been booked for allegedly facilitating the release of the passport of an international drug lord, who is wanted by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Officials said on Thursday.
Shehnaz Singh, also known as Shawn Bhinder, a native of Mandiala village in Batala, was arrested last March during the state government's anti-drug campaign, "Yudh Nashian Virudh." Following his arrest, Bhinder's passport was seized by the Regional Passport Office in Amritsar at the request of the police.
Bhinder was granted bail by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in October 2025, and it is believed that he fled the country after his passport was released.
Tarn Taran Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Surendra Lamba said on Thursday that five police officers have been booked for facilitating the release of Bhinder's passport by issuing a no-objection certificate (NOC) and preparing a biased report.
Lamba said that following an investigation into the lapse, a preliminary inquiry by the superintendent of police (headquarters) has attributed responsibility to the five police officers.
An FIR has been registered against Inspector Prabhjit Singh, Assistant-Sub Inspector (ASI) Lakhwinder Singh, ASI Gurwinder Singh, Head Constable Harkanwal Singh, and Constable Dharminder Singh.
According to sources, all five are currently at large.
During the investigation, the role of other police personnel will also be examined, the SSP said, adding that a detailed investigation will be taken up under the supervision of an SP-rank officer.
Strict action will be taken against any police officer found involved in facilitating the release of the drug lord's passport, Lamba said, adding that Inspectors Prabhjit Singh and ASI Lakhwinder Singh had been suspended earlier.
Bhinder is wanted by the FBI in connection with one of the largest drug busts in the US. On February 26, 2025, the agency seized 391 kg of methamphetamine, 109 kg of cocaine, four sophisticated weapons, and vehicles in the US, arresting six of Bhinder's associates.
Following the crackdown, Bhinder managed to evade the FBI and secretly arrived in India before being apprehended by state police in Ludhiana last year.
After his arrest, the Punjab Police had said that Bhinder was a key player in a global narcotics syndicate, smuggling cocaine from Colombia to the USA and Canada.
It was discovered that Bhinder had been operating under the guise of a legitimate transportation business in Canada since 2014 and had allegedly facilitated the movement of drugs from Colombia to the US and Canada via Mexico.
The investigation revealed that Bhinder along with his accomplices were transporting approximately 600 kg of cocaine from Colombia every week.