Amritsar sees surge in drug seizures in 2024

Amritsar continues to be a hotspot for cross-border drug trafficking, with a significant rise in contraband seizures throughout 2024. The district, comprising both the Amritsar city police commissionerate and Amritsar rural police district, has witnessed major drug recoveries, according to recent data from the Punjab Police.

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Over the past year, the Punjab Police have confiscated more than 600 kg of heroin, with the largest single seizure occurring in the Baba Bakala area. In late October, the Counter Intelligence wing of Punjab Police recovered 105 kg of high-quality heroin from a rented residential property. This marks one of the largest drug busts in the region in recent times.

The breakdown of the drug seizures reveals that Amritsar rural police accounted for 214 kg of heroin, while the City Police Commissionerate seized over 126 kg of the contraband. The quantity seized by the city police alone shows a near four-fold increase compared to 2023, when just over 34 kg was recovered. In contrast, the rural police saw a slight dip in seizures, down from 245 kg last year.

The Border Security Force (BSF) has also played a significant role in the crackdown, seizing 165 kg of heroin from the Amritsar border belt, which had been smuggled in from Pakistan via drones.

In addition to heroin, the city police also seized five kg of methamphetamine (commonly known as ICE), while the rural police recovered about two kg of the substance.A key strategy employed by the Punjab Police has been targeting the financial networks of drug cartels. As part of this initiative, substantial amounts of drug money have also been seized. The City Police recovered over Rs 2.02 crore, while the rural police confiscated Rs 3.38 crore in drug proceeds during investigations into various drug-related cases.

Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar emphasised that the significant drug seizures reflect the dedicated efforts of the Punjab Police to dismantle both cross-border trafficking and local drug distribution networks. He assured that the crackdown would continue in the future.SSP Amritsar Rural Charanjit Singh stated that his team has made concerted efforts to ensure that investigations into drug seizures reach their logical conclusion by arresting all individuals involved. “We have cracked down hard on drug peddlers, and no one involved in this illegal trade will be spared,” he warned.

The surge in drug seizures in highlights the challenge posed by cross-border smuggling and the efforts of the Punjab Police to combat the drug menace in the region.