Amritsar Police, in collaboration with a central agency, have dismantled a significant cross-border network involved in the smuggling of illegal arms, narcotics, and hawala money. The operation led to the apprehension of seven individuals, including an Afghan national and a juvenile.
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that the seizures made during the operation were substantial. Authorities recovered 10 sophisticated weapons, comprising two sub-machine guns, alongside 5.048 kilograms of heroin and Rs 30.38 lakh in cash suspected to be hawala money. This coordinated action represents a significant setback for an international smuggling syndicate allegedly operating across borders.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the arrested individuals maintained contact with handlers based abroad. These foreign-based operatives are believed to have orchestrated the network’s activities, utilizing social media platforms for coordination and communication. The network reportedly received consignments of narcotics and illegal weapons, which were subsequently distributed to criminal elements in various regions.
The Director General of Police (DGP) of Punjab, Gaurav Yadav, stated via a post on X that evidence found during the operation also pointed to the use of hawala channels for financial transactions associated with drug trafficking and arms smuggling. The recovered cash is understood to be linked to these illicit operations, according to Yadav.
Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar elaborated on the operation, highlighting that the arrests have exposed a well-organized network engaged in the trafficking of drugs, illegal arms, and illicit funds. He further emphasized that the involvement of foreign-based operatives underscores the escalating challenge posed by transnational criminal syndicates that leverage digital platforms for their coordination.
A case has been registered at the Islamabad Police Station in Amritsar. Further investigations are currently underway to establish backward and forward linkages within the network. Authorities aim to identify additional associates connected to the foreign-based syndicate and to uncover further seizures and arrests. The ongoing probe seeks to dismantle the entire operational structure of the smuggling ring.
The Chenab Times News Desk