NIA Raids 12 Locations Across Four States in Pakistan-Linked Arms and IED Smuggling Probe

In a major crackdown on suspected terror-linked smuggling operations, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday conducted coordinated searches at 12 locations across four states as part of an ongoing probe into the illegal movement of arms, ammunition and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from Pakistan into India. The operation comes amid growing concerns over the increasing use of drone-assisted smuggling networks and the evolving nature of cross-border security threats.

The searches were carried out at five locations in Uttar Pradesh , two each in Rajasthan and Bihar , and three in Maharashtra . During the operation, investigators seized several digital devices that will undergo forensic examination to uncover the full extent of the alleged conspiracy and identify additional individuals linked to the network.

The case originated in February this year when Punjab Police's Special Operations Cell arrested a suspect in Amritsar and recovered an IED packed in a metallic case with a remote-control mechanism, a foreign-made .30 bore pistol , a magazine, a mobile phone and 20 live cartridges . After taking over the investigation, the NIA found evidence suggesting that the smuggled weapons and explosives were intended for attacks in Punjab, Delhi and other parts of India , with the aim of causing widespread damage and disrupting public order.

Investigators believe the case reflects a broader shift in terror tactics, with Pakistan-based handlers increasingly relying on drones to transport weapons, explosives and narcotics across the border. Security agencies have repeatedly warned that such networks are becoming more sophisticated, using technology and local operatives to evade traditional surveillance systems.

The latest probe also highlights the growing nexus between arms trafficking, narcotics smuggling and terror financing . Recent enforcement actions have uncovered Pakistan-backed modules involved in moving heroin, weapons and explosive materials through the same cross-border routes. Border Security Force data has shown a sharp rise in drone interceptions and recoveries of weapons, ammunition and narcotics along the Punjab frontier.