Pakistan-based handlers used drones to smuggle arms, heroin into Punjab; 7 held

The Amritsar police have busted two cross-border smuggling networks allegedly being operated in coordination with Pakistan-based handlers, with the accused using drones to smuggle illegal arms and heroin into Punjab.

Seven persons have been arrested in two separate cases, while 10 pistols, 1.054 kg of heroin, five live cartridges and a drone have been recovered, the police said.

The investigation has also revealed a possible gang-war angle, with one of the consignments of smuggled weapons allegedly procured on the directions of gangster Gurpreet Singh alias Krishan Jandiala to target a rival gang member, said Police Commissioner Harmanbir Singh Gill.

In the first case, the Cantonment police arrested Kuldeep Singh alias Bhullar and Husanpreet Singh and recovered two .30-bore pistols and two cartridges from them.

Their interrogation led the police to Ahmed Raja and Jagseer Singh alias Bobby, from whom five more pistols and three cartridges were subsequently recovered.

According to the police, Kuldeep and Husanpreet were in contact with a Pakistan-based smuggler who allegedly supplied weapons through drones. The duo allegedly further supplied the weapons to criminal elements.

The investigation revealed that Ahmed Raja and Jagseer Singh had allegedly obtained the weapons from Kuldeep and Husanpreet on the directions of gangster Gurpreet Singh alias Krishan Jandiala. The weapons were allegedly intended to target a rival gang member in connection with an old rivalry.

Ahmed Raja, 21, has four previous cases registered against him, including under the Arms Act and in connection with murder and theft. The police said timely intervention prevented the alleged attack.

In the second case, the D-Division police arrested Navideep Singh and Anmoldeep Singh and recovered 1.054 kg of heroin from their possession.

Further investigation led to the recovery of three sophisticated pistols and a drone allegedly used for cross-border sorties. Another accused, Manjinder Singh alias Manga, was subsequently arrested following the interrogation of the two suspects.

The police said Navideep was in contact with a Pakistan-based smuggler who allegedly supplied both drugs and weapons through drones. The contraband was then allegedly routed to local associates and criminal elements.

The recovered weapons include a .30-bore Zigana pistol made in Türkiye, a 9mm Glock made in Austria, a 9mm PX5, two China-made .30-bore pistols, two .30-bore Star pistols, a .30-bore pistol, another 9mm Glock and a .30-bore PX3.