Two cross-border smuggling cartels busted, seven arrested in Amritsar

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

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

A probe has 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. Five more pistols and three cartridges were subsequently recovered from the two, the police said.

Kuldeep and Husanpreet were in contact with a Pakistan-based smuggler, who allegedly supplied weapons through drones. The duo was then allegedly supplying the weapons to criminal elements, they added.

The investigation further revealed that Ahmed Raja and Jagseer Singh had allegedly got the weapons from Kuldeep and Husanpreet on the directions of gangster Gurpreet Singh, alias Krishan Jandiala.

The arms were to be used to target a rival gang member in connection with an old rivalry, it was learnt. Ahmed Raja, 21, has four previous cases registered against him, including those under the Arms Act and in connection with a murder and a 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 in the case following their interrogation.

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

The recovery includes 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.

The police are now probing the backward and forward linkages of the two networks, including the Pakistan-based handlers, drone operators and local recipients involved in the distribution of the smuggled weapons and narcotics.