Six drones, 11.5 kg of heroin recovered in 3 days from 3 border districts of Punjab

AMRITSAR: The border villages in the Amritsar and Tarn Taran districts of Punjab have emerged as favored spots for smugglers backed by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and anti-India elements given the recent recovery of six drones and 11.5 kg of heroin within a span of three days from these border districts including Ferozpur in Punjab

From October 28 to 30, the Border Security Force (BSF) seized 6 drones and over 11.5 kg heroin from these districts .

Providing specific details about the contraband recoveries, a BSF source revealed that on October 28, one drone each was found in Wan and Dholan villages in the Tarn Taran district. On the same day, 1.63 kg of heroin was seized from Gatti Mattar village in Ferozepur. The following day on October 29, the BSF recovered one drone from Dhaoke village and another drone along with 2.14 kg of heroin from Bhaini village in the Amritsar district. Furthermore, on October 30, the BSF confiscated 2.99 kg of heroin from Kalash Havelian village in Tarn Taran district and discovered one drone in Nehsta village in Amritsar district. Additionally, on Monday, four cartridges were also recovered from Kalash Havelian village. BSF also recovered 4.35kg of heroin from Kalisan village in Tarn Taran and one broken drone from Attari village in Amritsar.

A former BSF official who didn’t wish to be quoted said “The trend of airdropping drugs and ammunition from the neighboring country is continuously rising despite announcements not only from the BSF but also from political leadership regarding the installation of anti-drone technology at the international border with Pakistan in Punjab. Despite these efforts, Pakistani smugglers have managed to successfully smuggle contraband into India. While these recoveries have been made by the BSF, the exact quantity of heroin that has crossed the border undetected remains uncertain which is evident from the rampant availability of drugs in Punjab and that only adds to the gravity of the situation”.

He further informed that cross-border smugglers were always looking for the chinks in the border with the help of Pakistan Rangers and ISI who provides them with technical knowhow to smuggle contraband into India besides the smugglers on both sides have developed vast network not only in Punjab but in other states also.