Punjab Newsline | Ameristar
In a major aggressive crackdown against the illicit drug trade and cross-border infiltration, Punjab Police has launched one of its biggest operations to date. Based on precise intelligence inputs, a special team from Counter Intelligence (CI) Amritsar conducted a swift raid in the border region, apprehending three key members of an inter-state smuggling racket. During the initial search, officers recovered 17 kg of high-grade heroin from the suspects. This latest seizure brings the total amount of heroin confiscated by Punjab Police over the last four days to a massive 54 kg, dealing a severe blow to the drug syndicate.
Preliminary interrogations have revealed startling details showing that the supply network had direct links to international drug cartels based in Pakistan. Operating under the cover of night, Pakistani handlers utilized advanced GPS-tracked drones to drop heavy drug consignments close to the Zero Line inside Indian territory. Local handlers and peddlers were tasked with retrieving these dropped parcels and distributing them across Punjab, as well as extending supply lines into neighboring regions of Haryana, Delhi, and Western Uttar Pradesh. However, timely intervention by the police successfully foiled their malicious plans.
Following this major breakthrough, senior officers from the Special Task Force (STF) and Counter Intelligence held a detailed press briefing to share updates. They confirmed that all arrested suspects are undergoing rigorous questioning to trace the masterminds behind the operation, as well as to uncover hawala channels and digital payment trails used to transfer funds back to Pakistan. Officials added that multiple police teams are conducting ongoing raids across various locations to dismantle the remaining links of this network.
Reaffirming its firm stance, the state government and Punjab Police administration reiterated their 'zero tolerance' policy against drug trafficking. Under strict directives from the Chief Minister and the Director General of Police (DGP), legal proceedings have been initiated to attach and confiscate benami properties owned by accused drug smugglers. This landmark operation sends a clear signal that any attempts originating from across the border to compromise peace and threaten the future of youth in Punjab will be thwarted with full force.
