Bhagwant Mann: Punjab Police, under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s aggressive anti-drug campaign, have uncovered a Pakistan-linked narco-smuggling module following the arrest of a local smuggler from Village Chandiwala near Dhandi Qadim in Fazilka district. Authorities recovered 5.11 kilograms of heroin from Baljit Singh, a resident of the village, during a joint operation with the Border Security Force. Preliminary investigations indicate that the consignment was drone-delivered from Pakistan and intended for statewide distribution, aligning with Mann’s push for a “drug-free Punjab” led by Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav.
How the Fazilka-Based Operation Nabbed the Smuggler and Seized Heroin
Bhagwant Mann: The State Special Operations Cell Fazilka acted on a tip-off to launch a covert operation in the Jalalabad area on December 28, 2025. Baljit Singh was apprehended during a personal search, revealing the heroin stash hidden for cross-border trafficking. Officials are now mapping the smuggling network’s forward and backward linkages to dismantle the broader module. The use of drones to transport narcotics from Pakistan underscores the evolving methods employed by smugglers targeting Punjab’s markets.
Punjab’s Broader Anti-Drug Push Under Chief Minister Mann
The bust is part of Yudh Nasheya Virudh Phase Two, launched in January 2025, which combines technology, community vigilance, and rehabilitation strategies to combat drug trafficking. Previous successes include the seizure of 51.5 kilograms of heroin in Amritsar in January 2026, also traced to Pakistan-based handlers. The campaign has led to arrests of multiple smugglers, demolition of drug dens, and significant recovery of narcotics. Authorities claim the state is increasingly free from organised gangster networks under the ongoing Aam Aadmi Party-led crackdown.
Punjab Police continue to track the broader narco-terror modules, monitor drone-smuggling tactics, and map cross-border connections. Strengthened intelligence coordination with the BSF, along with community vigilance programs, aims to prevent further infiltration.
