*— CONSIGNMENT WAS AIRDROPPED USING DRONE FROM ACROSS THE BORDER: DGP GAURAV YADAV*
*— FURTHER INVESTIGATION ON TO IDENTIFY SENDERS AND RECIPIENTS OF CONSIGNMENT, SAYS IGP CI ASHISH CHOUDHARY*
In a major breakthrough amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a drug free state as per directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Counter Intelligence (CI) Ferozepur, in a joint operation with Border Security Force (BSF), foiled a major cross-border narcotics smuggling bid with the recovery of big haul of 44.5 kg heroin and 3 kg Methamphetamine, popularly known as ICE drug, from the border area of village Gajniwala in Ferozepur, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Tuesday.
The consignment was airdropped using a drone from across the border.
DGP Gaurav Yadav said that based on a specific input generated by CI Ferozepur, a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) was jointly conducted with BSF in the fields of village Gajniwala, Ferozepur. Further investigation is underway to establish the forward and backward linkages of the cross-border smuggling network and identify all persons associated with the cross-border handlers.
Sharing operational details, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Counter Intelligence Ashish Choudhary said that acting on information provided by a reliable source on hearing drone movement near Indo-Pak border in Gajniwala area, police teams from Ferozepur district immediately shared the pin-pointed inputs with the BSF and jointly launched a combing operation in the area.
“On thorough checking of the surrounding fields, Police and BSF teams have successfully recovered the consignment of heroin and ICE drug from the area of Gajniwal,” he said.
The IGP said that investigations are on to ascertain the identity of the smugglers, who sent the consignment, and also their Indian associates, who were supposed to receive this consignment.
In this regard, a case FIR no. 19 dated 25/8/2026 under sections 21C and 29 of the NDPS Act has been registered against unknown persons at Police Station State Special Operations Cell (SSOC) Fazilka.