Barmer drug bust hints at Pak-linked route for explosives and weapons

Jaisalmer: Rajasthan Police have said a cross-border smuggling route used to bring 5kg of methamphetamine from Pakistan into Barmer may have also been deployed to move explosives and illegal weapons into India, after two arrested men made the claim during interrogation.The accused, Salman Khan and Shankar Ram, were arrested Monday with the methamphetamine. Police ADG MN said their disclosures pointed to a "highly secretive international network."Following the interrogation inputs, Rajasthan ATS, the Anti Gangster Task Force (AGTF) and Barmer Police, along with intelligence agencies, were put on alert. Officials said raids were carried out at multiple locations in the district and several suspects were detained for questioning. The detained suspects are being jointly questioned by ATS and AGTF officers with support from intelligence agencies. Investigators said handlers across the border may be attempting not only to push narcotics but also to disturb peace and public order through supplies of explosives and weapons. Police said further arrests and recoveries are likely.SP Jat said Salman, a resident of Sajjan Ka Par in Barmer, told investigators he had been in direct contact for the past six months with a handler identified as Masad from Neemla village in Pakistan. Police said the contact was facilitated by Rahim Khan, a resident of Salman's village and a relative of Masad, officials said. Investigators said the alleged operation relied on digital, location-based instructions. Salman allegedly received Google Maps locations through WhatsApp calls, often directing him to isolated spots near the border, including areas close to BSF restrictions or under lone trees. He would dig at the marked points to retrieve packets, police said. Payments were also allegedly left buried at pre-decided locations and collected based on phone instructions.Police said Salman claimed Masad deposited money in instalments into an Airtel Payments Bank account. For larger consignments, he allegedly received cash buried at secret sites. He told investigators that three months ago he collected a large buried payment in exchange for moving a packet from one concealed point to another.Police said Salman claimed the five packets were dug out on April 4 from beneath a tree about 250 metres from the border after Masad sent coordinates. The packets were allegedly buried in a yellow plastic sack.