Major drug busts in Punjab, Himachal: 5 arrested, heroin and opium seized

In two separate anti-narcotics operations, police in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh recovered significant quantities of drugs and cash, leading to the arrest of five people allegedly linked to trafficking networks, officials said on Saturday.

In Punjab’s Batala, police busted a cross-border drug and illegal arms racket , recovering 6.5 kg of heroin , a .30 calibre pistol with six live cartridges , and Rs 1 lakh in cash , officials said. Two accused were arrested during the operation carried out by Batala Police.

Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav , in a post on X, described the action as a “major breakthrough,” noting that the network was involved in drug trafficking as well as illegal arms supply. “Investigation revealed that weapons were being supplied to operatives within the network,” he said, adding that the case highlights the nexus between narcotics trade, extortion, and illegal arms networks .

An FIR has been registered at the Civil Lines police station, and further investigation is underway to establish forward and backward linkages and dismantle the entire network, police said.

In a separate operation in Himachal Pradesh’s Shimla district, police arrested three Nepalese nationals after recovering 9.28 kg of opium and Rs 12 lakh in cash from their possession in the Narkanda area.

Senior Superintendent of Police (Shimla) Gaurav Singh said the arrests were made following a specific tip-off regarding the movement of suspects carrying contraband. A Special Cell team set up a naka (checkpoint) near Narkanda and intercepted an Innova vehicle carrying the accused.

The suspects were identified as Chakra Bahadur (25), N Bahadur alias Raju (41), and Mohan Sahi (44). A case has been registered under Sections 18 and 29 of the NDPS Act, 1985 , and further investigation is underway to trace the wider network.

Together, the two seizures underscore intensified police action against inter-state and cross-border drug trafficking networks operating across northern India.