Punjab Police Dismantles Pakistan-Linked Arms and Drug Smuggling Network; Two Arrested
In a significant breakthrough, the Punjab Police have successfully dismantled a cross-border arms and narcotics smuggling network with links to Pakistan. The operation led to the arrest of two individuals and the seizure of a cache of weapons and drugs.
The operation was carried out by the Fazilka Police, acting on a specific tip-off. The arrested individuals have been identified as Surinder Singh and Gurpreet. Preliminary investigations suggest that the weapons were sourced from Pakistan and were intended for use by criminal gangs in Punjab. According to Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, the suspects were attempting to deliver the arms to ground operatives under the direction of foreign handlers.
Authorities seized five foreign-made pistols and nine magazines from the arrested individuals. In a separate incident, the Amritsar Commissionerate Police arrested five people, seizing 12 pistols and 1.5 kg of heroin. The accused were in direct contact with Pakistan-based smugglers, coordinating consignments via social media to fuel inter-gang rivalries in Punjab.
These are not isolated incidents. In late September 2025, Counter Intelligence (CI) Amritsar dismantled another cross-border drug smuggling module linked to Pakistan, arresting two key operatives and seizing 4 kg of heroin. Investigations revealed that the operatives were acting under the instructions of a Pakistan-based smuggler, Rana King, who used drones to airdrop narcotics into Indian territory.
These successful operations highlight the ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to combat drug trafficking and cross-border criminal activities. The Punjab Police have launched an intensified anti-drug campaign, "Yudh Nashian Virudh" (War Against Drugs), resulting in numerous arrests and recoveries. In one day alone, police conducted raids at 332 locations across the state, arresting 66 drug smugglers and registering 53 FIRs.
DGP Gaurav Yadav affirmed that the Punjab Police remain steadfast in their resolve to dismantle organized crime and drug trafficking networks, ensuring a safer, crime-free, and drug-free Punjab. Further investigations are underway to expose the full nexus, including backward and forward linkages of these networks. The police are actively pursuing further leads, and more arrests and recoveries are expected as the investigations unfold.
