Home / Crime and Justice / Drones, GPS Trackers Fuel Punjab Border Smuggling Ring
Drones, GPS Trackers Fuel Punjab Border Smuggling Ring
11 Nov
Summary
- Police uncovered a cross-border network using drones and GPS trackers for drug smuggling.
- A major crackdown led to the seizure of heroin, opium, methamphetamine, and weapons.
- Foreign-based handlers are suspected of coordinating the logistics with local operatives.
Amritsar Rural Police, in collaboration with central agencies and the Border Security Force (BSF), have dismantled a multi-layered cross-border smuggling operation in Punjab. This network allegedly utilized drones for dropping illicit consignments and GPS tracking devices to guide local operatives in retrieving them. The operation resulted in the arrest of seven individuals, including three juveniles, and the seizure of substantial quantities of drugs and weapons.
Recoveries include 7.904 kg of heroin, 5.152 kg of opium, and 2.3 kg of methamphetamine. Additionally, a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) launcher, two 9mm Glock pistols, and 106 live cartridges were confiscated. A drone, a GPS tracking device, and five mobile phones were also recovered, highlighting the technologically advanced methods employed by the syndicate.
Preliminary investigations suggest that foreign-based handlers orchestrated the entire operation, coordinating supplies and maintaining contact with local associates. One notable arrest was Balkar Singh, a landowner whose property borders the international fence, allegedly facilitating a drone drop of methamphetamine. The involvement of local youths, including minors, in drug distribution is a growing concern for investigators.
The investigation is actively tracing foreign-based handlers, identifying weapon and drug sources, and determining the final destinations of the seized consignments. This significant crackdown underscores the evolving nature of cross-border smuggling challenges in Punjab, where technology and international coordination are being exploited by criminal elements.
