Amritsar Police Cracks Down on Cross-Border Smuggling Rings
In a significant breakthrough, the Amritsar city police announced on Sunday that they have successfully busted two sophisticated cross-border arms and drug smuggling modules. The operation led to the arrest of six accused individuals and the recovery of a substantial cache of weapons and narcotics, according to Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar.
Details of the Arrests and Seizures
The arrested individuals have been identified as Karan Singh (26), Gurpreet Singh (22), Rakesh (26), and Chamkor Singh (23), all residents of Khemkaran in Tarn Taran district, along with Makhandeen (22) and Jasbir Singh (19) from Amritsar. During the raids, police recovered a total of six sophisticated pistols and 3.5 kilograms of heroin from their possession.
The seized weapons include three PX 5.7×28 mm Tisas pistols manufactured in Turkey, two .30 bore pistols, and one 9 mm pistol, accompanied by 60 live cartridges. Commissioner Bhullar highlighted that the PX 5.7×28 mm Tisas series pistols are among the latest and most advanced firearms, rarely encountered in such recoveries, indicating the high-level nature of the smuggling operation.
Links to Pakistan-Based Smugglers
Preliminary investigations have uncovered direct links between the arrested accused and Pakistan-based smugglers who have been supplying arms and narcotics near the Indo-Pak border using drones. The police revealed that the accused were operating under the guidance of a cross-border handler, suggesting the existence of a larger, well-organized smuggling network with international connections.
In one specific case, police apprehended Rakesh, also known as Keshu, and Chamkor Singh, recovering 200 grams of heroin from them. Based on their disclosures, an additional 800 grams of heroin was seized, bringing the total narcotics haul in this instance to 1 kilogram.
Separate Operation Yields Major Heroin Haul
In a distinct and coordinated operation, acting on specific intelligence inputs, police arrested Jasbir Singh, alias Beera or Raghu, and recovered a substantial 2.5 kilograms of heroin from his possession. This seizure underscores the scale and audacity of the smuggling activities being conducted across the border.
The successful bust of these two modules marks a critical step in curbing the flow of illegal arms and drugs into the region, with authorities emphasizing the ongoing threat posed by drone-assisted smuggling from Pakistan. The police are continuing their investigations to unravel the full extent of the network and identify additional accomplices.
