States » NorthPosted at: Oct 19 2026 7:38PM


Amritsar police bust Pakistan-linked arms, drug smuggling network; three arrested, 10 pistols seized

Chandigarh, Oct 19 (UNI) Amritsar police have busted an alleged Pakistan-linked arms and drug smuggling network, arresting three men and seizing 10 sophisticated pistols, 1.25 kg of heroin and a motorcycle, Police Commissioner Harmanbir Singh Gill said on Monday.
The arrests were made in the Cantonment area following an operation against cross-border smuggling. Police said the suspects were part of a network that used drones to transport weapons and narcotics from Pakistan into Punjab for distribution among local criminals and extortion gangs.
The arrested men were identified as Rajbir Singh alias Raja (24), Gautam alias Ajay (28) and Ravi Sher Singh (22).
Addressing a press conference, Gill said the recovered weapons included three Glock pistols and seven .30-bore pistols.
"Earlier, illegal weapons were largely sourced from states such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Now, sophisticated and more lethal firearms are being smuggled from Pakistan through drones," Gill said.
Police investigations have revealed that Ravi Sher Singh allegedly maintained links with Pakistan-based smugglers, while Rajbir and Gautam collected consignments from designated dropping points and passed them on for further distribution.
Gill said the network was suspected of supplying firearms to criminals involved in extortion and other serious offences. Investigators are now tracing both the suppliers and intended recipients of the seized consignments.
Police said Rajbir, who worked as a plumber, already faced five cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, while Gautam, employed as a bouncer, had two previous cases registered against him under the Arms Act. Ravi worked as a labourer.
Expressing concern over the involvement of young people in organised crime, Gill said smugglers were exploiting their desire for quick money, allegedly paying between Rs 10,000 and Rs 20,000 for handling individual consignments.
"Young people are being lured into criminal networks for relatively small amounts of money. Social media platforms, particularly Instagram, are also contributing to the growing attraction towards gangster culture," Gill said.
He warned that the increasing availability of sophisticated foreign-made firearms posed a serious challenge to law enforcement agencies.
A case has been registered at Cantonment police station, and investigators are examining the network's cross-border connections and local distribution channels.
Gill said further arrests and recoveries could follow as the investigation progresses.
UNI NB CDS
Tags: #Amritsar police bust Pakistan-linked arms# drug smuggling network; three arrested# 10 pistols seized
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