In a significant breakthrough against cross-border narcotics and arms trafficking, the Hanumangarh police apprehended two inter-state smugglers and confiscated a large consignment of heroin and weapons, suspected to have been delivered via drone from Pakistan. The dramatic late-night operation took place at the Nagrana toll plaza in Rajasthan's Hanumangarh district.
Late-Night Blockade Nets Luxury Car & Contraband
The action unfolded late on Wednesday night during a coordinated joint blockade. A team from the Sangaria police station, led by Station House Officer Amar Singh, and personnel from the District Special Branch were strategically positioned at the toll plaza. Their vigilance paid off when they stopped a luxury car bearing registration number HR 29 AV 8401 for checking.
A thorough search of the vehicle led to the immediate arrest of the two occupants and the discovery of a major haul. The seized items included a substantial 3.8 kilograms of high-grade heroin, two sophisticated foreign-made pistols, three magazines, one extra magazine, and 14 live cartridges. Police authorities estimated the international market value of the narcotics alone at a staggering Rs 15 crore.
Pakistan Connection Revealed Through Digital Trail
Following the arrest, intensive interrogation of the accused and forensic analysis of their mobile phones uncovered a disturbing cross-border link. The arrested individuals were identified as Bhupendra Singh from Bathinda in Punjab and Nasir from Deeg in Rajasthan.
Investigation revealed that the duo had physically collected the consignment from the Harike area in Punjab, near the India-Pakistan border. Chat records extracted by the cyber team indicated that both men were receiving instructions from a handler based across the border in Pakistan. It was under this handler's direction that the weapons and heroin were allegedly dropped by a drone from Pakistani territory into Indian soil in the Harike sector before being transported towards Hanumangarh.
"The cyber team's investigation of their mobile phones showed that both were being directed by a handler sitting across the border in Pakistan," confirmed Hanumangarh Superintendent of Police Shri Hari Shankar.
Ongoing Probe and Wider Network Concerns
The police have registered a formal case (No. 636/2025) at the Sangaria police station. The charges have been framed under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Arms Act. The investigation, now headed by Police Inspector Shri Ramchandra Kaswan from Hanumangarh Junction police station, is focusing on a critical unanswered question: the identity of the intended recipient of the consignment within Hanumangarh.
This incident has raised alarms about the persistent use of drone technology for smuggling across the western border. It also echoes a recent pattern, as authorities noted a connection to a previous case. Weapons found with three terrorists arrested in Gujarat last month were reportedly delivered via two smugglers from Uttar Pradesh in the Tibbi area of Hanumangarh district, a case currently being probed by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS).
The successful interception at Nagrana toll plaza underscores the continued efforts of Rajasthan Police to combat the intertwined threats of drug trafficking and illegal arms proliferation, often fueled by external actors.
