A Punjab Police constable posted with the state's anti-drone system has allegedly been caught with 15 kg of heroin in Tarn Taran, raising serious questions about the suspected involvement of a police personnel in drug smuggling. According to sources, the constable, identified as Karandeep Singh, was apprehended by a Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) team on Wednesday.
The heroin was recovered from his possession, sources said. The accused is being questioned to establish the alleged source of the consignment and identify any possible links to a wider drug network. Further details about the operation and the alleged supply chain are awaited.
The development comes amid heightened attention on Punjab's drug problem, particularly after anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota was shot dead at a chemist shop in Mansa on Tuesday. The two incidents have brought the issue of drug trafficking and enforcement in the state back into focus, although no direct link between the cases has been established.
What is Punjab's Baaz Akh anti-drone system?
Karandeep Singh's reported posting with the anti-drone system has drawn attention to Punjab's efforts to prevent the smuggling of narcotics across the International Border.
Punjab launched its anti-drone initiative, Baaz Akh, in Tarn Taran on August 9, 2025. The system was introduced to strengthen surveillance against drones used to transport drugs and other prohibited items from across the border.
According to the details provided, nine units are being established at a cost of ₹51.4 crore, with three units launched in the initial phase. The system is designed to work as a second line of defence behind the Border Security Force (BSF), covering the border belt from Pathankot to Fazilka.
Its primary objective is to detect suspicious drone movements and locate their ground-control stations, helping security agencies identify and intercept cross-border smuggling attempts.
BSF seized 272 drones in Punjab in 2025
The scale of the challenge is reflected in the number of drones seized along the Punjab border. The BSF reportedly seized 272 drones in Punjab in 2025 up to November 30, highlighting the continued use of unmanned aerial devices in suspected cross-border smuggling activities.
Anti-drone systems such as Baaz Akh are intended to strengthen the state's response by improving detection and supporting coordinated action by security agencies.
However, the alleged recovery of 15 kg of heroin from a police constable reportedly associated with the system raises questions that investigators will need to address. The ongoing questioning is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the recovery and whether other individuals were involved.
The investigation is underway, and further conclusions about the alleged network will depend on evidence gathered by the authorities.
