Punjab police bust arms, drugs smuggling ring in Amritsar, 5 arrested

In a major security breakthrough, Punjab Police busted a cross-border arms and narcotics smuggling module in Amritsar and arrested five accused during an intelligence-led operation, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said on Monday.

Acting on specific inputs, the Amritsar Commissionerate Police launched a targeted crackdown under the state’s anti-crime initiative #GangstranTeVaar. The operation led to the dismantling of the smuggling network and the detention of five persons allegedly involved in illegal trafficking activities linked to cross-border routes.

During the raid, police recovered six pistols, 10 live cartridges, 115 grams of heroin, and Rs 11.90 lakh in cash , believed to be proceeds from the drug trade. Officials said the seizure highlights the continuing nexus between arms suppliers and narcotics traffickers operating near the international border.

Sharing details on social media platform X, the DGP said the accused were actively connected to a larger cross-border smuggling network and were engaged in the supply of illegal weapons and drugs. Preliminary investigations indicate that the group had been coordinating both arms and narcotics movement into the region.

An FIR has been registered at Cantonment Police Station, Amritsar , under the Arms Act and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Police are now probing the forward and backward linkages of the network to identify suppliers, handlers, and other associates who may be part of the racket.

Officials said the action forms part of the state police’s sustained efforts to curb organised crime and prevent the flow of weapons and drugs into Punjab through cross-border channels.