In a sweeping crackdown that has spanned much of 2024, authorities along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab have intensified efforts to dismantle entrenched drug and smuggling networks, leading to hundreds of arrests and the disruption of illicit supply chains. The Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police, often working hand-in-glove, have together made significant inroads against traffickers, while also grappling with emerging tactics such as drone-based deliveries and the troubling exploitation of minors.
According to The Tribune, the BSF has arrested nearly 350 drug smugglers along Punjab’s 553-kilometer border with Pakistan since January 2024, averaging one arrest every other day. Most of these arrests have occurred in the high-risk districts of Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Ferozepur, regions that have long been plagued by frequent drone intrusions from across the border. The numbers are staggering: between January and September alone, 347 smugglers were apprehended—16 of whom were Pakistani nationals, alongside four Nepalese and three Bangladeshis. In addition, three Pakistani infiltrators were neutralized by BSF personnel.
BSF Deputy Inspector General AK Vidyarthi explained the evolving nature of smuggling operations, stating, “Pakistani smugglers are increasingly using drones and GPS-based delivery methods to evade detection. The high number of arrests shows the force’s commitment to dismantle the cross-border smuggling network.” The use of technology, particularly drones, has forced Indian security agencies to adapt rapidly, deploying night vision equipment, motion sensors, and anti-drone systems to counter these sophisticated incursions.
But it’s not just technology that’s changing the game. A senior BSF official revealed that Pakistani handlers have begun urging their Indian counterparts to recruit minors as couriers, banking on legal leniency for juveniles and hoping to slip under the radar of law enforcement. The exploitation of children in such high-stakes criminal activity adds a chilling dimension to the already complex problem of cross-border trafficking.
The jurisdictional landscape has also shifted. In 2021, the central government extended the BSF’s operational reach from 15 kilometers to 50 kilometers inside Indian territory, a move that drew criticism from political parties such as Congress and TMC, who feared overreach and encroachment on state authority. Yet, as officials have pointed out, most arrests still occur within the original 15-kilometer zone, suggesting that the core of smuggling activity remains perilously close to the border itself.
Local law enforcement has been equally active. In a series of recent coordinated operations across Kapurthala district and adjoining areas, Punjab Police arrested six individuals involved in drug trafficking and related illegal activities. These arrests covered a spectrum of narcotics, from heroin and opium to intoxicating tablets and illicit liquor. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gaurav Toora confirmed that the crackdown was the result of targeted intelligence and swift action by multiple police teams.
One notable arrest involved Sukhwinder Singh, a resident of Latiyawali village, who was found in possession of 300 grams of heroin and 500 grams of opium while riding a white Activa scooter. Singh, already facing multiple drug-related cases, was booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. In another case, Sub-Inspector Pradeep Kaur and her team apprehended Gurminder Singh of Ucha village, recovering 82 unmarked white intoxicating tablets from his possession.
The operations didn’t stop there. In Goindwal, Tarn Taran district, a special checkpoint led by ASI Balbir Singh and SI Gurmail Singh resulted in the arrest of Gurdev Singh alias Debu, who was caught with 45 intoxicating tablets after attempting to flee on his motorcycle. Meanwhile, in Kapurthala, Manohar was arrested near a veterinary hospital with six grams of heroin, and near Bijli Ghar, Gurpreet Singh and Aakash were nabbed with the same amount. Efforts to stem the flow of illicit liquor also saw Kabeerpur Police, under ASI Satvinder Singh, seizing 200 litres of lahan from Gurdev Singh and Sukhdev Singh, who were subsequently booked under the Punjab Excise Act.
SSP Toora emphasized that all accused have been taken into custody and booked under the relevant legal provisions. Investigations remain ongoing to trace wider supplier networks and collaborators, reflecting a broader strategy to not just arrest street-level operatives but also dismantle the larger cartels that orchestrate these operations from behind the scenes.
As authorities turn up the heat on traffickers, they’re also contending with other urgent law enforcement challenges. On October 8, 2025, two minor girls—a 14-year-old from Palahi village in Punjab and a 17-year-old from Bishnupur village in Bihar—went missing, sparking fears of abduction. The younger girl, a Class 10 student at Khalsa Private School, left for school but never returned; it was later discovered that neither girl had attended classes that day. Sadar Phagwara Police quickly registered an abduction case and launched a manhunt, circulating the girls’ descriptions to neighboring districts and appealing to the public for information.
SSP Toora assured the public that while anti-drug operations remain a top priority, the protection of vulnerable individuals and the maintenance of law and order are equally urgent. "We are committed to both dismantling drug networks and ensuring the safety of all residents, especially children and women," he stated.
These efforts are not occurring in a vacuum. The region’s proximity to Pakistan, the lure of quick profits, and the ever-evolving tactics of traffickers have made Punjab’s border districts a perennial flashpoint in India’s battle against narcotics. The cooperation between central agencies, such as the BSF, and local police is critical—Punjab Police and central agencies have worked together to trace locals involved in smuggling rackets linked with cross-border cartels, according to The Tribune.
Still, the scale and persistence of the problem are sobering. Smuggling networks have shown remarkable resilience, adapting to new challenges and exploiting every loophole, whether technological, legal, or human. The recruitment of minors, for instance, is a tactic as cynical as it is effective, exploiting the very laws meant to protect children. Meanwhile, the proliferation of drones and GPS-based delivery systems has forced security forces to invest heavily in surveillance technology and inter-agency coordination.
Yet, the recent spate of arrests and seizures suggests that these efforts are bearing fruit. With nearly 350 smugglers apprehended in just nine months, and a steady stream of local arrests disrupting smaller networks, authorities are sending a clear message that the days of impunity for traffickers may be numbered. Of course, the real test will be whether these crackdowns can translate into lasting change—drying up supply lines, deterring would-be smugglers, and ensuring that vulnerable communities are no longer caught in the crossfire of a battle that has raged for decades.
As Punjab’s law enforcement agencies continue their relentless pursuit, the stakes remain high, and the challenges daunting. But the determination on display—both in the field and behind the scenes—offers a glimmer of hope in a region too often defined by its struggles with drugs and crime.