In a sweeping series of law enforcement operations across northern India and Pakistan, authorities have intensified their crackdown on smuggling, arms trafficking, narcotics, and cybercrime, revealing the scale and complexity of illicit networks that operate across borders and within states. The past week has seen dramatic arrests, massive seizures, and the deployment of advanced tactics, including the use of drones for cross-border arms drops, as police and customs officials seek to disrupt the machinery of organized crime.
On December 7, 2025, Punjab Police scored a major breakthrough in their ongoing battle against arms smuggling, arresting Sandeep Singh, a resident of Khalra village in Tarn Taran. According to Mathrubhumi, Singh was apprehended with five pistols—four .30 bore pistols and one 9mm pistol—along with corresponding magazines and his Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycle, which police say was used to ferry illegal consignments. This was no ordinary case of gun-running. Investigators uncovered that the weapons had been dropped by drones originating from Pakistan, a method that has become increasingly common in recent years as smugglers look to bypass heightened border security.
Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav told reporters, "The operation has exposed a network that relied on drone drops from across the border to supply weapons to gangsters in the state." Preliminary findings suggest that Sandeep Singh, working with a wanted associate, Saifli Singh, had been collecting these drone-dropped consignments under the instructions of a Pakistan-based handler. The handler orchestrated the drops near the Indo-Pak border, after which the weapons were distributed to criminal elements within Punjab.
The Counter-Intelligence wing of Amritsar Police, acting on specific intelligence about a large cache of weapons near Khalra, intercepted Sandeep Singh near the village of Thatha in Tarn Taran as he was allegedly en route to deliver the latest batch of arms. An FIR was registered under Sections 25 and 25(1)(a) of the Arms Act and Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at the State Special Operation Cell in Amritsar. Police say further investigations are underway to map both the forward and backward linkages of the network and to dismantle the entire smuggling operation.
Meanwhile, across the border in Pakistan, customs authorities have ramped up their own anti-smuggling initiatives. According to The News International, Pakistan Customs carried out major enforcement actions across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh in the week leading up to December 8, 2025. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Collectorate of Customs Enforcement Peshawar reported the interception of three trucks carrying a staggering 12,200 kilograms of smuggled betel nuts, 4,021 sleeves of foreign cigarettes, and 170 tyres, all valued at Rs54.5 million. Non-duty-paid cosmetics worth Rs2.4 million were also confiscated from passenger conveyances in D.I. Khan, and two non-duty-paid vehicles—a Toyota Vitz and a Toyota Aqua—valued at around Rs8 million, were impounded in Peshawar Division.
The Anti-Smuggling Directorate in Nowshera intercepted a JAC pickup loaded with 2,000 sleeves of foreign cigarettes, with the case valued at Rs9.5 million. Customs officials emphasized that these actions are part of a broader, intensified effort to curb smuggling across KP, reflecting the authorities’ resolve to block illicit trade routes and choke off supply lines for contraband goods.
In Sindh, the challenge of high-value smuggling was brought into sharp focus during an intelligence-led operation near the Karachi–Hyderabad Toll Plaza. Customs officers seized 564 high-end smuggled mobile phones, including Google Pixel and Motorola models, hidden inside a tampered Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. The phones, collectively worth Rs96 million, were discovered after officers noticed suspicious welding marks on the vehicle. A forensic report later confirmed that the SUV itself was tampered and non-duty-paid, adding another Rs32 million to the haul. Both the vehicle and the phones were seized under the Customs Act, 1969, and an FIR was registered as investigators work to identify the smuggling network involved.
Back in India, the state of Haryana has been waging its own war against crime under the banner of ‘Operation Hotspot Domination’. As reported by The Tribune, up to December 5, 2025, Haryana Police conducted raids at 834 hotspot locations notorious for drugs, illicit liquor, and gambling. The results were significant: 165 criminals arrested and sent to custody, 106 criminal cases registered, and seizures including Rs 1.44 lakh in cash, four country-made pistols, six pistols, 18 live cartridges, three magazines, one car, four motorcycles, and one mobile phone.
The campaign’s focus on narcotics yielded major results. On December 5, police seized 700 litres of illicit liquor, 2,650 intoxicating tablets, over 950 bottles of illegal liquor and wine, 26 kg of poppy husk, and 127 kg of ganja. Intelligence-sharing was ramped up, with 127 reports sent to other states to help tighten the net on inter-state criminal gangs. Notably, 21 absconding violent offenders who had long evaded law enforcement were finally arrested, while nine cases under the Arms Act led to 12 more arrests. Across the state, police also assisted 345 distressed or needy individuals, demonstrating a commitment to community welfare alongside crime-fighting.
District-level efforts were particularly noteworthy. Sirsa police led the state with 106 raids and seven arrests. Gurugram police, with 53 raids, arrested 24 suspects and extended humanitarian assistance to 122 distressed people. In Palwal, the force not only tightened its grip on offenders but also provided aid to 19 individuals suffering from severe cold. Panipat and Rohtak adopted a zero-tolerance policy against illicit liquor traders, with targeted raids resulting in arrests and significant seizures.
The digital age has brought new challenges, and Haryana Police have responded with an intensified crackdown on cyber fraudsters. On December 7, 2025, 313 complaints were registered on the Cyber Helpline 1930, reporting online frauds totaling approximately Rs 1.41 crore. The cyber team acted swiftly, freezing Rs 90,45,370—nearly 64 percent of the reported amount—before it could reach fraudsters’ accounts. Fourteen cybercriminals were arrested, Rs 1,10,500 was recovered, and Rs 6,39,000 was refunded to victims.
Faridabad police busted a gang involved in credit-card fraud, arresting four men who posed as bank representatives and siphoned off money through fake forms. Another case saw the arrest of Sujal Haldar from Mathura, who ran a Telegram-based scam that lured victims with promises of online earnings. One woman lost Rs 14.50 lakh before police intervened. Both cases highlight the evolving tactics of cybercriminals and the need for vigilance among the public.
These coordinated crackdowns on both sides of the border underscore the evolving nature of crime in the region—where drones, digital scams, and sophisticated smuggling operations increasingly challenge law enforcement. As authorities adapt with intelligence-led policing, technology, and cross-agency cooperation, the message is clear: the fight against organized crime is far from over, but the resolve to disrupt it has never been stronger.
