200 drones seized by BSF this year

The border skies of Punjab have turned into a frontline of incursions with the ISI-backed anti-national elements pushing more weapons and explosives into India via drones. The Border Security Force (BSF) has seized around 200 drones this year so far. The number of such seizures was 294 last year.

The smuggling of weapons and explosives has increased manifolds as compared to 2024. Pakistan-based smugglers are now using sophisticated drones to escape surveillance along the border. In 2024, the BSF seized 34 pistols and 47 magazines.

The figure this year has already touched 165, including three AK-47 rifles and 275 magazines. It also confiscated 1 kg RDX and other explosives. “The trafficking of sophisticated firearms and explosives through drones has increased multiple times as compared to previous years,” said BSF spokesperson DIG AK Vidyarthi.

“Recently, the BSF seized China-made DJI Mavic 4 Pro drones, which are more advanced and move faster than its earlier versions,” said a BSF official.

On October 12, the BSF neutralised and seized a DJI Mavic 4 Pro drone along with a packet containing 1.14 kg heroin from Havelian in Tarn Taran. A similar drone and a heroin packet were seized from Naushehra Dhallan along the Amritsar border the next day.

The ever-evolving drone threat from across the border posed a major challenge to national security. Yet, through cutting-edge surveillance, intelligence-led operations and unyielding commitment of BSF troops, every attempt of aerial intrusion was being tracked, intercepted and neutralised with precision, he claimed.