Anti-drone measures cut cross-border heroin flow Punjab Police seeks stronger inter-state action against pharma drug networks

Chandigarh, 13 September (H.S.): Punjab Police has said pharmaceutical drug abuse is emerging as one of the biggest challenges in narcotics enforcement in the state, with tighter action against cross-border heroin smuggling leading to a shift in trafficking patterns.

A police spokesperson said the coordinated crackdown by Punjab Police and the Border Security Force on narcotics being smuggled from Pakistan has reduced the availability of street heroin. As a result, organised networks are increasingly turning towards pharmaceutical drugs sourced from other states.

Punjab Police has deployed nine anti-drone systems, including three “Baaj Akh” systems operational in Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Ferozepur since August 2025. Three Drone Sense D200 Pro mobile detection systems have also been deployed in border districts since September 3, 2026.

According to police, 52 Drone Response Teams comprising 147 personnel work with the BSF to respond to drone alerts, search suspected drop locations and intercept persons collecting consignments. The border security grid also includes 64 second-line defence checkpoints, around 600 police personnel and 2,367 CCTV cameras installed at 585 locations.

Village Defence Committees in border areas have also been integrated with the response mechanism. Police said nearly 80,000 persons have been arrested under the “Yudh Nashiyan Virudh” campaign since March 1, 2025, while 486 drones have been recovered. Properties worth more than Rs 336 crore have also been frozen as part of financial investigations.

The spokesperson claimed around Rs 2 crore has been distributed under the reward policy, which provides Rs 25,000 for information leading to recovery of a drone.

Police data indicates that most pharmaceutical drugs seized in Punjab are manufactured outside the state, including in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Delhi and Himachal Pradesh. Since 2025, around 11.54 lakh pharmaceutical tablets and capsules linked to consignments from other states have been recovered.

Punjab Police estimates that nearly 80 per cent of pharmaceutical drugs reaching the state now originate from other parts of India. The force said it would take up the issue with concerned states to strengthen monitoring of manufacturing, sale, purchase and transportation and prevent diversion of pharmaceutical drugs into illegal networks.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH