Punjab Police has achieved a major breakthrough in its ongoing crackdown on organized crime networks by successfully bringing back notorious fugitive Gurwinder Singh alias Afridi from Ethiopia. The Anti-Gangster Task Force executed this complex international operation, nabbing a target who had been eluding law enforcement across global borders for ten months. Upon landing, the suspect was immediately taken into custody at the Delhi airport and is now being transported back to Punjab.
The Background and Criminal Profile of Afridi
The apprehended individual is identified as a kingpin of the Doni Bal and Prabh Dasuwal syndicate. Carrying a cash reward of 5 lakh rupees on his head, he was wanted in more than 30 heinous criminal cases. For a prolonged period, he operated his illegal syndicate from foreign soil after fleeing India in 2025 using a fraudulent passport manufactured in Lucknow, initially escaping to the UAE.
Ten-Month Global Manhunt and Tracking
Law enforcement shared his details with the Central Bureau of Investigation to secure a Red Corner Notice against him. Facing mounting pressure from global security agencies and continuous police tracking, the fugitive frequently changed his hiding spots. He moved to Kenya in April 2026 and later relocated to Ethiopia in November, where his exact coordinates were finally traced to initiate deportation proceedings. Authorities highlighted that this marks the very first successful extradition carried out by the state police force from an African nation.
Clear Warning to Syndicate Operatives
Top police leadership delivered a stern message to all criminal elements, emphasizing that offenders cannot escape the long arm of the law regardless of where they flee globally. An appeal was also issued to young individuals to abandon the dangerous path of crime and gun culture. Under the ongoing special drive launched in January 2026, authorities have successfully coordinated the deportation of 13 accused individuals and secured 25 Red Corner Notices against fugitives hiding abroad.
Extensive Crackdown Across the State
Since April 2022, systematic operations have dismantled numerous criminal modules across the region. Officials reported a total of 3,339 arrests and the neutralization of 1,293 syndicate modules. Throughout these operations, law enforcement has seized over 2,500 weapons and more than 700 vehicles, underscoring a continuous effort to dismantle the financial and operational backbone of organized crime.
