In a major multi-layered crackdown, the Amritsar Commissionerate Police has dismantled a highly organised cross-border drug cartel connected to foreign-based handlers. The operation resulted in the recovery of 4.083 kg of Methamphetamine (ICE) and 1.032 kg of Heroin, marking a significant breakthrough in Punjab’s ongoing anti-narcotics campaign.
Punjab Police Dismantles Major Cross-Border Drug Cartel, Recovers Meth and Heroin
According to the Punjab DGP, the action was the outcome of a series of intelligence-driven surveillance and targeted raids that helped police teams track the movement of the suspects. Acting swiftly on credible inputs, the police apprehended three operatives who were facilitating drug trafficking through encrypted platforms.
During the initial investigation, officials found that the network relied heavily on WhatsApp-based coordination to communicate with suppliers in Pakistan and handlers operating abroad. Encrypted calls, virtual numbers, and proxy accounts were used to evade law enforcement scrutiny, pointing to the cartel’s sophisticated operational methods.
The seized narcotics were intended for distribution across multiple districts of Punjab
The seized narcotics were intended for distribution across multiple districts of Punjab, and the trafficking ring reportedly had links to previously identified smuggling modules active along the border belt. Police officials noted that this bust has prevented a substantial quantity of synthetic drugs from entering local markets.
FIRs under the NDPS Act have been registered at PS Gate Hakima and PS Chheharta, Amritsar. The investigation has now expanded to identify the financial channels, bank accounts, hawala operators, and logistics facilitators associated with the cartel. More arrests are expected as the probe deepens.
Authorities said that teams are currently working to trace the backward linkages to understand how the drugs were sourced, as well as the forward linkages to map intended receivers and distribution networks inside the state. Technical analysis of seized mobile phones and digital devices is also underway.
Punjab Police reaffirmed its commitment to combating transnational drug syndicates, stressing that such operations demonstrate the force’s readiness to take on organised crime. The department emphasized that it will continue to pursue narco-gangs using advanced technology, strong intelligence sharing, and coordinated field action to secure a drug-free Punjab.
