In a major breakthrough against narcotics trafficking, the Counter Intelligence (CI) wing of Amritsar has dismantled a cross-border heroin smuggling module with links to Pakistan, arresting two operatives and seizing 4 kilograms of heroin from their possession. The operation, carried out as part of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s vision of a drug-free Punjab, underscores the state’s intensified crackdown on organized smuggling networks.
Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab, Gaurav Yadav, confirmed on Sunday that the arrested individuals have been identified as Akashdeep Singh alias Tony, a resident of Attari in Amritsar, and Pawanbir Singh of Basarke Bhaini in Amritsar. Along with the contraband, the police also impounded their Hero Splendor motorcycle, which was being used to transport the narcotics consignments.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that the duo was working on the instructions of Pakistan-based smuggler Rana King, who has been orchestrating cross-border drops of narcotics through drones. These drops are later retrieved and circulated within Punjab by local operatives.
Detailing the operation, DGP Yadav said that CI Amritsar had received specific intelligence regarding the retrieval of a large narcotics consignment near the border area. Acting swiftly, the team laid a trap on the Chheharta-Sann Sahib Road in Amritsar near Mannu Hospital, where the suspects were intercepted while attempting to deliver the heroin consignment to another party.
DGP Yadav emphasized that further investigations are underway to expose the full network, including its forward and backward linkages, to completely dismantle the smuggling module. He assured that more arrests and recoveries are expected in the coming days as the probe deepens.
A case under FIR no. 53 dated September 28, 2025, has been registered at Police Station State Special Operation Cell (SSOC), Amritsar under sections 21, 25, and 29 of the NDPS Act. The successful bust highlights the Punjab Police’s relentless commitment to safeguarding the state from the menace of drug trafficking and ensuring the vision of a safe, drug-free Punjab.
