Punjab Police Nab Five in Arms Smuggling Bust

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In a significant breakthrough, the Counter Intelligence (CI) wing of the Amritsar police arrested five individuals on August 1, dismantling a cross-border arms smuggling network allegedly linked to Pakistan. The operation, led by Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, resulted in the recovery of six sophisticated pistols, including four 9mm Glock pistols and two .30 bore pistols, along with magazines and eight live cartridges, according to the Department of Information and Public Relations.

The arrested operatives—Jagroop Singh of Dhun, Navdeep Singh of Patti Lahian Di, Arshdeep Singh of Shaliwal, Gurlal Singh of Rajoke, and Joban Singh of Patti Mana Ki—hail from the Tarn Taran and Amritsar districts. They were intercepted near Bus Stop Panjwar on the Amritsar-Bhikhiwind Road while awaiting delivery of the weapons to local criminal elements. According to DGP Yadav, initial investigations suggest the smuggling was orchestrated by a Pakistan-based handler named “Rana,” who used drones to drop arms consignments across the India-Pakistan border.

Officials confirmed that Jagroop Singh and Navdeep Singh have prior criminal records under the Arms Act and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Intelligence gathered in the border areas of Tarn Taran and Amritsar helped police anticipate the drop and act swiftly to intercept the operatives.

A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Arms Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the State Special Operation Cell in Amritsar. Law enforcement officials are continuing the investigation to identify other members of the network and trace further linkages to cross-border handlers.

This operation comes amid heightened concerns over arms smuggling along Punjab’s border areas, where criminal gangs have increasingly relied on drone drops to acquire weaponry. The arrest underscores the Punjab Police’s ongoing efforts to curb cross-border security threats and maintain law and order. The police have recently conducted several similar raids, including the seizure of 13 illegal weapons in three separate operations within a 24-hour period.

For updates on the case, authorities advise monitoring statements from Punjab Police and the Department of Home Affairs.