In a major crackdown on drug trafficking and organised crime, the Amritsar Rural Police have arrested 10 accused and recovered a huge cache of narcotics, illegal weapons and drug money during multiple operations conducted across the district. Police said the seizures were made as part of the Punjab Government's ongoing anti-drug and anti-gangster campaigns. All the accused arrested are said to be of age between 25-27.
Confiscation of total arms and drugs
Addressing a press conference, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kavalpreet Singh Chahal said the police recovered 10.940 kilograms of heroin, 1.019 kilograms of methamphetamine (Ice), 11 illegal pistols, live ammunition and ₹52,000 in suspected drug money from the arrested accused. The operation was carried out after sustained investigations in several police station jurisdictions, leading to the dismantling of multiple links in an alleged cross-border drug trafficking network.
Different divisions of seizure
According to the SSP, one of the cases registered at Gharinda Police Station led to the recovery of 460 grams of heroin and two pistols under FIR no. 279 on 27-06-26. In another case, police arrested a suspect identified as Gursahib, who was allegedly found in possession of 1.5 kilograms of heroin and one pistol. This was done under FIR no. 276 on 24-06-26. During further investigation, police arrested another accused, identified as Satinder, a resident of Ghahri village. From his possession, officers allegedly recovered around eight kilograms of heroin along with five illegal pistols under FIR no. 219 on 27-06-27.
Police also registered another case at Gharinda Police Station in which they seized 1.019 kilograms of methamphetamine (Ice). Separate operations in other parts of Amritsar Rural also yielded significant recoveries. During a checkpoint operation in the Ajnala area, police recovered three pistols, while another operation under Kathunangal Police Station led to the seizure of two kilograms of heroin. In the Tarsikka police station area, officers recovered one pistol along with nine live cartridges.
Ways of smuggling
SSP Chahal said preliminary investigation indicates that a large quantity of heroin and illegal weapons was allegedly smuggled into India from Pakistan using drones. He said police are actively investigating both the forward links, relating to the distribution network within India, and the backward links, concerning the source and cross-border supply chain, in an effort to dismantle the entire network.
Property seized
The SSP further informed that, under Section 68-F of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, police have frozen two properties worth over ₹1.20 crore allegedly linked to drug traffickers. He added that action is underway to identify and attach more assets connected to the illegal narcotics trade.
Police also revealed that several of the arrested accused have previous criminal records, with cases already registered against them under the NDPS Act and the Arms Act. Investigators are examining whether the accused have links with larger organised crime syndicates involved in cross-border smuggling and illegal arms trafficking.
Further investigation
SSP Chahal reiterated that the campaign against narcotics and organised crime will continue with full intensity. He said the police remain committed to identifying every individual involved in the supply chain and taking strict legal action against those engaged in drug trafficking, illegal arms smuggling and related criminal activities. The investigation is ongoing, and further arrests and recoveries are expected as police continue to probe the network.
