Punjab Police Bust Arms, Drug Trafficking Networks, Seven Arrested, RPG And Heroin Seized

The Punjab Police, in a joint operation with a central agency, have busted multiple illegal arms and drug trafficking networks with the arrest of seven persons, including three juveniles, and recovered a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG), firearms and large quantities of narcotics, officials said on Tuesday.

The recoveries included an RPG-22 Netto anti-tank missile launcher, two pistols, over 100 cartridges, 7.904 kg of heroin, 5.152 kg of opium and 2.344 kg of ICE (methamphetamine). Police also seized a drone, a GPS tracker and five mobile phones.

Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said the investigation had revealed that the accused were allegedly in contact with foreign-based handlers who facilitated the supply of illegal weapons and narcotics for further distribution among criminal elements.

Sharing details of the operations, Inspector General of Police (Border Range) Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said that in the first operation, Amritsar Rural Police and central agency teams arrested Gurkirpal Singh alias Gurpal, 20, along with a juvenile associate, and recovered the RPG launcher.

In a second operation, Lopoke police, along with the Border Security Force (BSF), arrested Lovepreet Singh alias Navpreet Singh, 25, and seized two 9 mm Glock pistols, magazines and ammunition from the Uttar Dhariwal border outpost area. Raids are underway to apprehend his two alleged associates.

In another operation, Bhindi Saida police arrested Balkar Singh, 41, Sukhjit Singh, 19, and two juveniles in connection with an ICE smuggling module, recovering around 2.3 kg of the drug.

Investigators found that Balkar Singh, whose agricultural land is located along the international border fence, had allegedly arranged cross-border drone drops and recruited local youths from Ajnala to distribute the drugs.

Separately, police recovered 7.904 kg of drone-dropped heroin and a tracker near Awan Lakha Singh village. A joint night search with the BSF in the BOP Fatehpur area led to the seizure of another 5.152 kg of opium.

Police said further investigation is underway to establish the network's backward and forward linkages and identify other individuals involved.