In a significant operation targeting cross-border crime, the Sangaria police and the district special branch have intercepted a major consignment of narcotics and weapons suspected to have been smuggled via drone from Pakistan. The late-night crackdown on Wednesday led to the arrest of two inter-state smugglers and the recovery of heroin valued at crores in the international market.
Major Haul at Nagrana Toll Plaza
The joint police teams conducted a strategic blockade at the Nagrana toll plaza in Rajasthan's Hanumangarh district. During the operation, they stopped a luxury car and apprehended its two occupants. A thorough search of the vehicle yielded a substantial illegal cache.
The seized items include 3.8 kilograms of high-grade heroin, two foreign-made pistols, three magazines, one extra magazine, and 14 live cartridges. Authorities have estimated the international market value of the confiscated heroin to be approximately Rs 15 crore.
Drone Delivery and Cross-Border Links Uncovered
Superintendent of Police Hari Shankar stated that the action was part of an intensified drive against narcotics and illegal weapons. The arrested individuals have been identified as Bhupendra Singh, a resident of Bathinda in Punjab, and Nasir, from Deeg in Rajasthan.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the duo had collected the consignment from the Harike area in Punjab. A cyber forensic analysis of their mobile phones provided a crucial lead, indicating that both men were receiving instructions from a handler based across the border in Pakistan.
According to the police, the handler directed the operation where the heroin and weapons were allegedly dropped into Indian territory using a drone. The accused were transporting the haul towards Hanumangarh at the time of their arrest, though the final destination of the consignment is still under investigation.
Ongoing Investigations and Wider Network
A case has been registered under the stringent Arms Act at the Sangaria police station. Police officials have drawn connections to broader terrorist networks, noting that a similar weapons supply chain had earlier surfaced in the Tibbi area of Hanumangarh. This earlier chain was linked to terrorists arrested in Gujarat last month.
The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) is already probing those links, and the latest seizure suggests a persistent pattern of drone-assisted smuggling from across the western border. The police are deepening their inquiry to unravel the entire network involved in this sophisticated cross-border trafficking operation.
