BSF intercepts drone heroin consignment at border

Jaisalmer: The Border Security Force (BSF) in coordination with police, recovered 2.235kgs heroin worth around Rs 11 crore from the border area under the Karanpur police station area in Sriganganagar district Monday.According to BSF sources, intelligence inputs had indicated that a drone-based heroin drop would take place in the Karanpur area. Acting on this, BSF heightened vigil along the international border and set up special nakas at multiple locations under BSF Outpost 3 FC. Late Sunday night, jawans heard a drone approaching from the Pakistan side and an object being dropped in a field. A search operation led to the discovery of three packets. The consignment was believed to have been sent by Pakistani smugglers. The smugglers who came to collect it managed to flee, following which surveillance was intensified in the area. Police were informed, and a joint blockade along with a search operation was carried out to trace the suspects. Sriganganagar SP Harishankar Yadav said proceedings were underway to register a case at Karanpur police station.The recovery of drugs came a day after a major seizure in Chak 19 O, where 12.167 kg heroin worth around Rs 60 crore was recovered from a kinnu field. Four accused, identified as Sandeep Singh, Rajendra Kumar, Balwant Singh and Pawan Kumar were arrested.Police sources said a Punjab-based smuggler, Gurmelsingh, escaped during the earlier operation and is suspected to be coordinating drone consignments from across the border.Officials said Srikaranpur and the Ghadsana sector remain vulnerable corridors for cross-border drone-based narcotics smuggling.