CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR, April 30 — Police in India’s northern state of Punjab have arrested two men and seized more than 4 kilograms of heroin and four pistols in an operation targeting a cross-border smuggling network, a senior officer said on Thursday.
The arrests were made by the Amritsar Commissionerate Police as part of an ongoing drive to curb drug trafficking and illegal arms smuggling in the border state.
Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said preliminary investigations revealed that the accused were in contact with Pakistan-based smugglers through social media platforms. He added that consignments of drugs and weapons were delivered via drones, which were later collected and supplied further.
The two suspects were identified as Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh, 21, a resident of village Lahuka in Tarn Taran, and Tarsem Singh alias Kairon alias Pehlwan, 31, a resident of Mohalla Jaswant Singh Nagar in Tarn Taran.
Police said Arshdeep Singh was apprehended with 2.6 kg of heroin. On further follow-up and interrogation, co-accused Tarsem Singh was arrested, and 1.5 kg of heroin and four pistols were recovered from his possession. The recovered weapons include two 9mm Glock pistols made in Austria and two .30 bore pistols made in China, along with five live cartridges.
Commissioner of Police Amritsar Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said Tarsem Singh is a repeat offender facing 16 criminal cases under the NDPS Act, Arms Act, Prison Act and for attempt to murder. He is also an associate of gangster Gurpreet Singh alias Krishan Jandiala, who is believed to be residing abroad.
Investigators said Tarsem Singh was lured into working for the gangster with the promise of a fake passport and assistance to travel abroad.
Police said further investigations are underway to establish forward and backward linkages and identify other associates involved in the network.
A case (FIR No. 68 dated April 26, 2026) has been registered under Sections 21-B, 21-C and 29 of the NDPS Act and Section 25 of the Arms Act at Police Station Cantonment in Amritsar.
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