Major Drug Bust: 12 Kg Heroin Seized in Rajasthan Border Operation
In a significant counter-narcotics operation, police and Border Security Force (BSF) personnel successfully thwarted a major attempt to smuggle heroin from Pakistan into Rajasthan using a drone. The incident occurred on Sunday near the international border in the Sriganganagar district, leading to the seizure of a substantial quantity of narcotics and the detention of multiple suspects.
Operation Details and Seizure
The joint operation resulted in the confiscation of 12 kilograms of heroin, with an estimated street value of approximately Rs 60 crore. The contraband was discovered in a field within the border area under the jurisdiction of the Karanpur police station. According to police reports, the heroin was meticulously packed into four large packages, each containing 24 smaller packets weighing 500 grams apiece.
Intelligence Tip-Off and Recovery
Sriganganagar Superintendent of Police Harishankar Yadav revealed that the operation was initiated following a crucial tip-off from the CID Border Intelligence agency. The intelligence indicated that a large consignment of heroin from Pakistan was scheduled to be dropped via drone in the Karanpur area, with local smugglers poised to collect it. Acting swiftly on this information, joint teams of police and BSF personnel conducted a search and recovered the packets near the border village designated as 19 O (O).
"As per instructions received from Pakistani smugglers, local contacts took delivery of the heroin dropped near the Indo-Pak border," stated SP Yadav, highlighting the cross-border coordination involved in the smuggling attempt.
Suspects and Interrogation
Four suspected smugglers were detained in connection with the case. Police disclosed that two of the detainees are residents of Punjab who had traveled to the area specifically to collect the consignment. All four individuals are currently undergoing intensive interrogation as authorities work to uncover further details about the smuggling network and their connections.
Drone Delivery and Additional Findings
Yadav confirmed that the heroin was dropped "all at once" using a large quadcopter drone that crossed over from Pakistan into Indian territory. In addition to the narcotics, police recovered nine plastic radium sticks during the operation. These items are commonly used as short-term light sources, potentially aiding the smugglers in locating the dropped packages under cover of darkness.
Ongoing Search Efforts
An extensive search operation remains active in the border area as authorities continue to investigate the incident and ensure no additional contraband or suspects are overlooked. This successful interception underscores the vigilance and coordination between Indian security forces in combating cross-border drug trafficking, particularly through emerging methods like drone deliveries.
