Punjab police bust cross‑border heroin smuggling ring, seize 24.5 kg narcotics and cash

In a decisive intelligence‑led operation , the Punjab Police , in close coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF) , has successfully dismantled a cross‑border drug smuggling module linked to Pakistan and seized 24.5 kg of heroin , Rs 21.5 lakh in cash , and a drone used for illicit deliveries, senior officials said on Sunday.

Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said the crackdown was based on “specific actionable intelligence regarding frequent drone‑assisted drops of contraband near the Indo‑Pakistan border.” “We have strong evidence that these smugglers were in direct communication with Pakistan‑based handlers and used unmanned aerial vehicles to transport narcotics into Punjab,” the DGP told reporters. Preliminary forensic analysis of the recovered drone — now with technical teams — is expected to reveal flight logs and communication intercepts that could lead to additional arrests.

The three accused have been identified as Jagjit Singh alias Rana , Manpreet Singh , and Roshan Singh , all residents of Amritsar. Police said the suspects were apprehended during coordinated raids across multiple locations after days of surveillance. A senior BSF official added, “The drone was programmed to fly low and drop consignments under cover of darkness, attempting to evade detection. Our alert troops tracked its movement and intercepted the operation.”

Officials noted that this seizure comes amid an intensified anti‑narcotics campaign in Punjab , where security forces have increasingly used counter‑drone technology and human intelligence to disrupt smuggling attempts. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann recently asserted that the state’s zero‑tolerance policy has led to large drug and arms recoveries, and that strengthening aviation and border surveillance has been a priority. “We will not let these criminals destroy our youth,” Mann said in a statement on law and order progress.

Further investigation is underway to map the larger smuggling network , trace financial transactions, and determine whether the module had links with other outlawed syndicates involved in narcotics and arms trafficking.