Punjab Police foil cross-border arms smuggling bid, recover Glock pistols

Punjab Police on Wednesday claimed a major breakthrough against organised crime with the busting of a cross-border illegal arms trafficking module allegedly linked to Pakistan-based smugglers , following the arrest of two persons in Amritsar and the recovery of a cache of sophisticated firearms.

The arrests were made by the Amritsar Commissionerate Police , which seized six pistols including two Glock handguns and four .30 bore pistols along with two cartridges , Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said. The Glock pistols, known for their high firepower and use by international criminal syndicates, point to a well-organised smuggling network, officials said.

According to the police, the arrested accused were actively involved in illegal arms trafficking and were supplying weapons to gangsters in Punjab under the instructions of foreign handlers operating from Pakistan . Preliminary investigation suggests the module was using cross-border smuggling routes , possibly involving drone drops or riverine corridors, which have increasingly been exploited by criminal networks along the India–Pakistan border.

An FIR has been registered under relevant sections of the Arms Act at Police Station Islamabad in Amritsar , and further investigation is underway to trace the entire supply chain , including financiers, receivers, local facilitators and end-users of the weapons.

Senior police officials said the arrests are expected to lead to further recoveries and disclosures , as investigators suspect the module was part of a larger syndicate attempting to revive gangster activity in the border state. “The accused were not acting independently. They were part of a structured network with clear roles, from procurement to delivery,” a senior official said.

Growing concern over cross-border arms smuggling:

Punjab has witnessed repeated attempts by Pakistan-based smugglers and handlers to push weapons, narcotics and counterfeit currency into the state, often using advanced technologies such as drones and GPS-enabled drops . Security agencies believe such activities are aimed at fueling organised crime and disturbing law and order , particularly by arming local gangs.

Officials project that arms smuggling attempts may increase in the coming months as enforcement tightens against drug trafficking, forcing syndicates to diversify operations. The recovery of foreign-made weapons, especially Glock pistols, has raised concerns about the increasing sophistication of smuggling networks .

Government measures to curb illegal arms trafficking:

The Punjab government, in coordination with central agencies, has stepped up measures to counter cross-border smuggling. These include: Enhanced border surveillance , with increased deployment of the Border Security Force (BSF), high-resolution cameras and night-vision equipment along vulnerable stretches. Anti-drone systems and jamming technologies to intercept drone-based weapon and drug drops. Special intelligence units within Punjab Police focusing on gangster modules, foreign handlers and financial trails. Joint operations with central agencies such as the NIA and intelligence bureaus to dismantle transnational networks. Stricter monitoring of licensed weapons and periodic verification to prevent diversion into illegal channels.

DGP Yadav said Punjab Police remains committed to a zero-tolerance policy against organised crime and cross-border smuggling. “We will continue sustained operations to identify and neutralise such modules and ensure that weapons do not reach criminal elements,” he said.

Authorities said further arrests are likely as the investigation progresses and vowed to intensify efforts to break the nexus between foreign handlers and local criminal gangs .