Punjab Police have arrested seven persons, including a serving Indian Army soldier, across four targeted operations aimed at dismantling cross-border arms and narcotics smuggling modules. Officials confirmed the seizure of fourteen pistols and 20.130 kilograms of heroin during the coordinated crackdowns in Amritsar district. Initial findings suggest the operatives were in active contact with an overseas handler who coordinated the supply lines. The arrested men were identified as serving soldier Yudhvir Singh, 22, Uday, 19, Patras, 19, Sajan Singh, 19, Sahilpreet, 20, Jarmanjot Singh, 20, and Sahibnoor Singh, 21.
Interception of Drone Consignments and Recovery of Weapons
The initial breakthrough occurred when a police team from Gharinda intercepted Uday and Patras while they were en route to Khemkaran. Officers recovered ten pistols, including one 9mm firearm and nine .30-bore pistols, shortly after the pair collected a consignment dropped by a drone across the international border. Investigators revealed that the duo had retrieved and delivered twenty to twenty-five similar consignments in the past. Authorities are working to trace the recipients of those shipments, with the probe focusing on how unmanned aerial vehicles were deployed to move illicit weapons into the hands of local distributors and organized criminal groups.
Arrest of Serving Soldier on Leave and Narcotics Seizure
In a parallel operation, a joint team from the Amritsar Rural Crime Investigation Agency and Gharinda police arrested Army personnel Yudhvir Singh from Ranike village while he was home on leave, recovering a .30-bore pistol from his possession. Yudhvir, who was previously booked under the Arms Act, is now the subject of an official report being forwarded to military authorities regarding his suspected role in procurement and logistical distribution. Meanwhile, a third raid led to the arrest of Sajan Singh and Sahilpreet along with 20.130 kilograms of heroin, prompting investigators to track the contraband back to cross-border routes to determine the larger commercial network behind the supply.
Further Arms Recoveries and Legal Proceedings
The fourth operation concluded with the arrest of Jarmanjot Singh and Sahibnoor Singh by personnel from the Amritsar Rural Special Cell and Kathu Nangal police station, yielding two more pistols. Investigators are evaluating whether the individuals across all four cases operated under a single syndicate or functioned as separate supply cells linked to common foreign handlers. Two Arms Act cases were filed at Gharinda on October 26, alongside an NDPS Act case on October 27, while Kathu Nangal police registered an Arms Act case on October 23. Inquiries continue to map the supply chains and establish the identities of international handlers directing the drops.
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