In a major crackdown on cross-border smuggling operations, the Amritsar Rural Police on Sunday dismantled a Pakistan-backed arms and drug trafficking network with alleged links to the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Acting on specific intelligence inputs, police arrested five key accused and seized a cache of sophisticated weapons, ammunition, drug proceeds, and other materials.
According to an official statement, the operation resulted in the recovery of one AK Saiga 308 assault rifle with two magazines, two Glock 9mm pistols with four magazines, 90 live cartridges for AK rifles, 10 live 9mm cartridges, ₹7.50 lakh in drug money, a car, and three mobile phones.
Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav termed the breakthrough significant. In a post on social media platform X, he wrote, “In a significant breakthrough, Amritsar Rural Police, in close coordination with central agencies, dismantles a major trans-border smuggling network of sophisticated arms and drug money, operated by Pakistan-ISI backed handlers.”
The five arrested individuals have been identified as:
- Jobanjit Singh alias Joban, resident of Village Rangharh
- Gora Singh, resident of Village Rangharh
- Shenshan alias Shalu, resident of Rasulpur Kallar, Amritsar
- Sunny Singh alias Ganna, resident of Rasulpur Kallar, Amritsar
- Jaspreet Singh alias Motu, resident of Mugal Mangri, District Rupnagar
Investigations have revealed that the seized arms and ammunition were intended to be delivered to Nav alias Nav Pandori, a known associate of notorious gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, suggesting a deeper terror-gangster nexus supported by Pakistan-based handlers. “Preliminary investigation reveals the accused had direct links to Pakistan-based ISI operatives. The intercepted consignment was intended to be delivered to Nav @ Nav Pandori, a known associate of gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, indicating a broader terror-gangster nexus,” DGP Yadav stated.
Also Read: Drug peddler held with 10 Pak-smuggled weapons
This breakthrough follows another major operation on Saturday, during which Amritsar Police arrested four drug smugglers and recovered 6.106 kg of heroin. One of the arrested individuals, Sarabjeet Joban, has been identified as the kingpin of the drug network with confirmed links to a Pakistani smuggler named Rana.
Commissioner of Police Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, addressing the media, said, “We have arrested four major smugglers and recovered 6.106 kg of heroin from them. Sarabjeet Joban has emerged as the kingpin. He was dropping consignments on the Indian side by identifying various locations for a long time.” The two successive crackdowns underline Punjab Police’s intensified efforts to dismantle trans-border smuggling networks and curb the growing nexus between drug cartels, gangsters, and terror elements.
Also Read: BSF intercepts 2 Pak drones with heroin in Amritsar
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