Punjab cop on anti-drone duty held with 16kg heroin near Pakistan border
TARN TARAN/PATHANKOT: Security agencies have busted two cross-border heroin smuggling modules, arresting three alleged operatives, including a Punjab Police constable and a woman, and seizing 23.823kg of heroin in coordinated operations near the Indo-Pak international border.
A senior Border Security Force (BSF) official said personnel apprehended Punjab Police constable Karandeep Singh, who was posted at anti-drone systems installed at various locations along the international border in Tarn Taran district.
At around 6am on Wednesday, Karandeep was travelling in his personal car in the border village of Naushehera Dhalla when BSF personnel became suspicious of his activities. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of three packets containing around 16kg of heroin.
The constable, who was on two days' leave, was handed over to the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) for further action, the official said. Preliminary investigation revealed that Karandeep was allegedly a drug addict and had smuggled drugs from across the border.
In a separate operation, Pathankot police arrested Gurpanth, a resident of Vadala village in Amritsar rural, and his associate Harmanjeet Kaur, a resident of Dhianpur village in Gurdaspur district, said Pathankot SSP Manpreet Singh on Wednesday.
A Special Branch team intercepted Gurpanth based on specific intelligence and recovered 590gm of heroin from him. During his interrogation and a forensic examination of his mobile phone, police developed leads that led to a raid at a rented accommodation in Fatehgarh Churian.
Harmanjeet Kaur was arrested during the raid, and police recovered another 7.233kg of heroin from the premises, taking the total seizure in the Pathankot case to 7.823kg, the SSP said.
Preliminary investigation has indicated cross-border links. Packets bearing distinctive seal impressions and Pakistani markings were recovered during the operation, officials said.
Police are examining digital and technical evidence, including videos related to drug consignments and financial transaction records, to establish the supply chain, trace the money trail and identify others allegedly involved in the smuggling network.
A case under Section 21 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act was registered at Sadar police station in Pathankot through FIR No. 155 dated October 12, 2026. Further investigation is underway.
A senior Border Security Force (BSF) official said personnel apprehended Punjab Police constable Karandeep Singh, who was posted at anti-drone systems installed at various locations along the international border in Tarn Taran district.
At around 6am on Wednesday, Karandeep was travelling in his personal car in the border village of Naushehera Dhalla when BSF personnel became suspicious of his activities. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of three packets containing around 16kg of heroin.
The constable, who was on two days' leave, was handed over to the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) for further action, the official said. Preliminary investigation revealed that Karandeep was allegedly a drug addict and had smuggled drugs from across the border.
In a separate operation, Pathankot police arrested Gurpanth, a resident of Vadala village in Amritsar rural, and his associate Harmanjeet Kaur, a resident of Dhianpur village in Gurdaspur district, said Pathankot SSP Manpreet Singh on Wednesday.
A Special Branch team intercepted Gurpanth based on specific intelligence and recovered 590gm of heroin from him. During his interrogation and a forensic examination of his mobile phone, police developed leads that led to a raid at a rented accommodation in Fatehgarh Churian.
Harmanjeet Kaur was arrested during the raid, and police recovered another 7.233kg of heroin from the premises, taking the total seizure in the Pathankot case to 7.823kg, the SSP said.
Preliminary investigation has indicated cross-border links. Packets bearing distinctive seal impressions and Pakistani markings were recovered during the operation, officials said.
Police are examining digital and technical evidence, including videos related to drug consignments and financial transaction records, to establish the supply chain, trace the money trail and identify others allegedly involved in the smuggling network.
A case under Section 21 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act was registered at Sadar police station in Pathankot through FIR No. 155 dated October 12, 2026. Further investigation is underway.
Next Story