Punjab Police Bust Cross-Border Drone Drug Trafficking Network: Kingpin Arrested With 5 KG Heroin

Punjab Police have successfully dismantled a cross-border drug smuggling operation along the India-Pakistan border, resulting in the arrest of a key figure responsible for collecting heroin packages delivered by drones.

The Amritsar Commissionerate Police, acting on reliable intelligence, confiscated more than 5 kg of heroin from 25-year-old Rajpal Singh, a resident of Amritsar.

In conversation with NDTV, Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav confirmed that this operation was part of the state's comprehensive anti-drug campaign initiated under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann's directives.

Initial investigations revealed that Rajpal Singh maintained connections with a Pakistan-based handler and utilized the Dera Baba Nanak sector to retrieve drug shipments transported by drones across the border.

"The suspect was coordinating a transnational network and collecting drug packages dropped by drones. The investigation continues to identify the complete distribution chain and his associates," explained Yadav.

Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, Amritsar Police Commissioner, stated that Rajpal Singh's capture resulted from ongoing investigations following the August arrest of a drug dealer named Lucky, who was found with 3 kg of heroin.

Investigators traced the operation to Rajpal Singh, who was subsequently apprehended on October 19. His interrogation led authorities to discover an additional heroin shipment exceeding 5 kg.

According to Bhullar, Rajpal Singh concealed the narcotics in bags filled with clothing and transported them via buses to major distribution points like Jalandhar and Ludhiana to ensure undetected delivery.

"We anticipate additional arrests and seizures as we continue to expose the broader network," Bhullar added.

Authorities have registered a case under Sections 21-B, 21-C, 27-A, and 29 of the NDPS Act at the Chheharta police station in Amritsar.