Gurdaspur Police Seize 2.4 Kg Heroin and Two Pistols in Two Operations, Three Arrested
Gurdaspur, Punjab: In a major crackdown on alleged drug trafficking and illegal firearms, Gurdaspur police arrested three people in two separate operations and recovered more than 2.4 kg of heroin, two firearms, ammunition, ₹5,000 in suspected drug money and a motorcycle, officials said.
The operations were carried out in the border district as part of intensified efforts to curb the movement of narcotics and illegal weapons. Police said the recoveries also pointed to the possibility of a wider network involved in transporting and distributing drugs in the area.
According to Senior Superintendent of Police Aditya, the first operation was conducted jointly by personnel from the Special Branch, Gurdaspur, and Behrampur police station during routine patrolling in a border-area village.
One suspect escapes, another caught with heroin and pistol
During the patrol, police reportedly noticed two young men in the area. When the youths saw the police team approaching, one of them allegedly ran towards nearby fields and managed to escape.
The second man, identified as Nishan Singh alias Sonu, 20, a resident of Mallok Chak under Dorangla police station, was apprehended by the police team.
A search of Nishan allegedly resulted in the recovery of four packets containing 2.184 kg of heroin. Police also recovered a .30-bore Beretta pistol, along with its magazine and four cartridges, from his possession.
The recovery of both narcotics and a firearm has led investigators to examine whether the accused was allegedly part of a larger drug and weapons network operating in the border region.
Police suspect drone-based smuggling from Pakistan
During preliminary questioning, police said Nishan allegedly told investigators that the heroin consignment had been smuggled into India from Pakistan using a drone.
The allegation is significant because security agencies in Punjab have repeatedly been investigating the use of drones to move narcotics and other contraband across the international border.
Police registered a case at Behrampur police station under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Arms Act.
Officials said Nishan does not have any previous criminal record. At the same time, police teams are working to identify and arrest the associate who allegedly escaped from the spot.
Second operation leads to two more arrests
In a separate operation, a team from Dhariwal police station was conducting patrols when officers intercepted two men travelling on a motorcycle.
The two suspects were identified as Dalbir Singh, 45, of Kalyanpur, and Nitish Kumar, 30, of Dhariwal.
Police said a search of the two men and the motorcycle resulted in the recovery of 262 grams of heroin, ₹5,000 in suspected drug money and a .32-bore revolver loaded with six cartridges.
An FIR was subsequently registered at Dhariwal police station under relevant sections of the NDPS and Arms Acts.
Police probe possible wider network
With the two operations yielding substantial quantities of heroin and illegal firearms, investigators are now focusing on identifying the alleged suppliers, handlers and intended recipients of the contraband.
Police said all three arrested accused will be questioned to establish their backward and forward linkages. This means investigators will attempt to determine where the drugs and weapons allegedly came from and who they were intended for.
The inquiry will also examine whether the two cases are connected or represent separate networks operating in the district.
Border areas remain under close watch
Gurdaspur’s location near the international border makes the district particularly sensitive from a security and narcotics-control perspective. Police and other security agencies have been maintaining increased surveillance in border areas to detect attempts to transport drugs and weapons.
The alleged use of drones to deliver narcotics has added another challenge for law enforcement agencies, which are working to identify both the people operating such networks and those receiving the consignments on the Indian side.
Police said efforts are continuing to trace the suspect who escaped during the first operation and to uncover the wider network behind the alleged smuggling activities.
The investigation in both cases is underway, and further arrests or recoveries may follow as police examine the evidence and question the accused.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
