Cross-border arms smuggling module busted, three nabbed

Close on the heels of the seizure of three AK-47 assault rifles and pistols smuggled from Pakistan by the Border Security Force (BSF) and State Special Operation Cell, the Amritsar police have confiscated yet another consignment of weapons and nabbed three operatives of a cross-border drugs, arms and narcotics smuggling module here.

The city police have recovered as many as 10 sophisticated pistols — four Glock 9mm and six .30 bore China-made — apart from 500 gm of opium from their possession.

Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab, Gaurav Yadav, said the accused were part of an inter-district gang engaged in smuggling weapons and drugs into Punjab, operating under the directions of a Pakistan-based handler.

“The recovered arms were meant to be supplied to gangsters and criminals to fuel unlawful activities in the state,” he added.

Those arrested have been identified as Rajan alias Sagar (28) of Faizpura, Amritsar; Surinderpal Singh alias Pali (24) of village Tali Wala, Fazilka; and Jagjit Singh (25) of Cheema Kalan, Tarn Taran.

Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said that the operation began with the arrest of Rajan, from whom one .30 bore pistol and opium were recovered. His interrogation led police to the other two accused. From Surinder's possession, police recovered three .30 bore and one

9mm pistol, while Jagjit's arrest yielded five more pistols-three Glock 9mm and two .30 bore.

Preliminary probe revealed that the gang was retrieving drone-dropped consignments from Amritsar to Fazilka and Tarn Taran sectors, later supplying them through direct and location-based delivery systems.

Jagjit had reportedly returned from Dubai four months ago, while the villages of Surinder and Jagjit are located close to the international border.

A case under the NDPS Act and Arms Act has been registered at Sadar police station, Amritsar. Further investigation is underway to trace the entire network and identify cross-border links.

Notably, the Border Security Force in a joint operation with State Special Operation Cell, had confiscated two AK-47 assault rifles along with a pistol on Monday from Tarn Taran's Mehdipur village followed by confiscation of another weapon consignment, including an AK-47 assault rifle and three pistols from three persons.

Yesterday, Amritsar rural police also recovered six pistols with 11 magazines and 91 live cartridges of .30 bore and 20 bullets of 9mm calibre from Amarbir Singh alias Amar of Dairiwal village in Tarsikka.