Heroin seizure by BSF along Punjab border exceeds last year’s total recovery

The seizure of heroin by the Border Security Force (BSF) along the International Border in Punjab has exceeded last year’s total recovery, with the border guarding force recovering 329 kg of this narcotic so far this year as compared to 287 kg during the entire year in 2024.

“As of November 14, 2025, BSF troops have successfully intercepted 251 drones along with 191 weapons, 12 hand-grenades, over 10 kg of high explosive, 329 kg of heroin and 16 kg of ICE,” a BSF spokesperson said on Friday.

During these operations, BSF also neutralised three Pakistani intruders and apprehended 240 Indian nationals suspected of smuggling and 19 Pakistani nationals involved in cross-border crimes, he added.

In 2024, the border guarding force had intercepted 294 drones during the entire year, significantly up from 107 such seizures in 2023 and just 21 in 2022, according to official figures.

BSF has deployed advanced surveillance systems, including induction of anti-drone systems, and a strong intelligence network to ensure strict security along the 553-km Punjab frontier. The Amritsar-Tarn Taran belt and the Ferozepur region are particular hotspots in Punjab for illegal drone activity.

With the proliferation of drones for cross-border smuggling, BSF has also reworked its operational procedures to tackle the threat from hostile drones in the border regions and updated the training curriculum for its personnel besides adding technical facilities for forensic examination of seized drones to discern their capabilities, radio links, operating locations and routes.

Though every BSF battalion and border outpost employs tactical drones for surveillance, earlier this year, BSF raised its first dedicated drone squadron for deployment along the India-Pakistan border, that will comprise a mix of reconnaissance, surveillance and attack drones and specially-trained personnel to operate them.

The force is also focusing on in-house research and development in the field of drones. The BSF academy in Gwalior has established its first ever School of Drone Warfare, which provides not only operational and tactical training on drone and anti-drone technologies but also fosters research in these emerging domains.

Earlier this week, BSF signed a memorandum of understanding with the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi and Rustumji Institute of Technology, Tekanpur, for academic collaboration, research and technical innovation, of which drone and counter-drone technology form an important part.