3 kg heroin dropped by drone seized near IB in Jammu

Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday seized nearly 3 kg of heroin dropped by a drone in the Bishnah area of Jammu, close to the International Border (IB) with Pakistan.

The seized heroin is estimated to be worth crores of rupees in the international market.

Darshan Lal, a local resident, spotted the drone-dropped packet in an agricultural field while ploughing his land. The drone was reportedly seen hovering over the area briefly before dropping the consignment and flying away.

An official said that after receiving the information, a team from Bishnah police station, along with other officials, rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area. A search operation was launched jointly by the police and BSF to ascertain whether more packets had been dropped by the drone.

Police also began investigations to determine the origin and nature of the drone movement. Local residents were questioned and nearby areas searched.

In an official statement, Jammu Police described the recovery as a major breakthrough against cross-border narcotics smuggling. The police said Bishnah Police recovered a “massive consignment of heroin weighing 3 kgs, which was dropped via a drone along the border area.”

“Acting on precise intelligence developed over the past week, police teams had been maintaining strict round-the-clock vigil in the suspected sectors. The meticulous planning paid off when the illicit payload was intercepted and seized before it could reach its intended recipients,” the statement said.

The consignment comprised six packets, which were weighed on the spot by security agencies.

A team from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) also reached the spot and conducted a detailed analysis of the recovered contraband to gather scientific evidence.

Police said the seizure reflects Jammu Police’s commitment to dismantling the narco-terror ecosystem. “It highlights the force’s enhanced vigilance and tactical capability in countering emerging technological threats such as drone-based smuggling from across the border. A comprehensive investigation is underway to trace the forward and backward linkages of the Pakistan network,” the statement added.

Areas along the IB and the Line of Control (LoC) have witnessed similar drone-dropping incidents in recent years. Terror groups increasingly use drones for smuggling narcotics, considering it less risky than using human carriers.