Afghan heroin, foreign arms seized near Bikaner border in ₹50 crore smuggling bust
Synopsis
A Punjab-jailed man allegedly orchestrated drone drops of Afghan heroin and foreign weapons worth ₹50 crore across the Bikaner border — with payments routed through Dubai hawala to Pakistan. The bust exposes a recruitment pipeline targeting unemployed youth and a syndicate with tentacles across Rajasthan, Punjab, Afghanistan, and the Gulf.
Key Takeaways
Bikaner Police seized 10.999 kg of Afghan heroin , 11 foreign-made pistols , 22 magazines , and 100 live cartridges worth nearly ₹50 crore near the Khajuwala international border .
The contraband was allegedly dropped by a drone across the India-Pakistan border in Bikaner district, Rajasthan .
The alleged mastermind, Vicky alias Vikram , is reportedly currently lodged in a Punjab jail and allegedly directed operations remotely.
Payments were routed through a hawala network in Dubai before reaching handlers in Pakistan .
The case is linked to an April seizure of 14 kg of heroin in Bikaner's Pogal police station area; alleged kingpin Rakesh Prajapat remains absconding.
Seven special teams have been constituted; the syndicate is estimated to have 20–25 members active across Jodhpur, Nagaur, and Pali districts.
Bikaner Police have dismantled a major cross-border narcotics and arms smuggling syndicate operating across Rajasthan, Punjab, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Dubai, seizing contraband worth nearly ₹50 crore near the India-Pakistan border in Bikaner district. The haul — comprising 10.999 kg of Afghan heroin, 11 foreign-made pistols, 22 magazines, and 100 live cartridges — was allegedly delivered by a drone along the Khajuwala international border.
The Arrest That Cracked the Network
The breakthrough followed the arrest of Virendra Singh Rajpurohit, a resident of Pali district, in connection with collecting the drone-dropped consignment. During interrogation, investigators traced the operation's alleged mastermind to a man identified as Vicky alias Vikram, who is reportedly lodged in a Punjab jail at the time of the bust. Rajpurohit allegedly received ₹50,000 for delivering one such consignment, pointing to a structured courier model that exploits financially vulnerable individuals.
The Dubai-Pakistan Hawala Trail
According to police, Vicky allegedly maintained direct contact with handlers based in Pakistan, while payments for the heroin consignment were routed through a hawala network operated by his associates in Dubai before being transferred to Pakistan. Inspector General of Police Om Prakash and Bikaner Superintendent of Police Mridul Kachhwa confirmed that investigators are now tracing the full chain of hawala transactions used to finance the smuggling operation. Director General of Police Rajiv Kumar Sharma said coordinated efforts are underway with central security agencies and the Punjab Police to identify every node in the cross-border syndicate.
Organised Courier Network Across Two States
Investigators have uncovered a structured recruitment pipeline in which unemployed and financially vulnerable youth across Rajasthan and Punjab were allegedly lured with promises of quick money to collect drugs and weapons from the border and transport them to designated locations. Preliminary findings suggest the network has an active presence across Jodhpur, Nagaur, and Pali districts, with an estimated 20 to 25 members. The investigation is being jointly pursued by Bikaner Police, Punjab Police, and central security agencies.
Linked to Earlier Bikaner Heroin Case
The current bust has been connected to a separate heroin seizure in April at the Pogal police station area of Bikaner, where 14 kg of heroin was recovered from a scooter following a road accident. Two individuals — Rahul Rawat and Prashant, both residents of Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh — have been arrested in that case, while the alleged kingpin Rakesh Prajapat remains at large. Police have constituted seven special teams to trace Prajapat and other absconding members of the syndicate.
What Happens Next
Authorities are coordinating with district police chiefs across Rajasthan to dismantle the full network. The multi-agency probe — spanning state police, central security agencies, and financial intelligence units tracking the hawala trail — signals that investigators view this as a systemic transnational operation rather than an isolated seizure. With a Punjab-jailed accused allegedly directing cross-border drone drops, the case raises pointed questions about the reach of smuggling networks even from inside correctional facilities.
Point of View
Not merely a border security lapse. The drone-drop model has now been documented repeatedly along the Rajasthan and Punjab borders, yet the infrastructure to intercept these drops at scale remains visibly inadequate. The Dubai-hawala-Pakistan payment chain is also a well-worn route; the fact that it continues to function with apparent ease suggests financial intelligence coordination between agencies needs urgent tightening. Seven special teams chasing one absconding accused is resource-intensive — the harder question is structural: how are jailed accused continuing to command active smuggling operations?
NationPress
4 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized in the Bikaner border drug and arms bust?
Police seized 10.999 kg of Afghan heroin, 11 foreign-made pistols, 22 magazines, and 100 live cartridges worth nearly ₹50 crore near the Khajuwala international border in Bikaner district, Rajasthan. The consignment was allegedly delivered by a drone from across the India-Pakistan border.
Who is the alleged mastermind behind the Bikaner smuggling network?
The alleged mastermind is identified as Vicky alias Vikram, who is reportedly lodged in a Punjab jail. According to police, he allegedly maintained direct contact with handlers in Pakistan and coordinated the drone drops and courier network remotely.
How were payments made for the drug consignment?
Payments were allegedly routed through a hawala network operated by associates of the accused in Dubai, before being transferred to handlers in Pakistan. Investigators are now tracing the full chain of these transactions.
Is this case linked to any earlier drug seizures in Rajasthan?
Yes. The investigation has been connected to an April seizure of 14 kg of heroin from a scooter in the Pogal police station area of Bikaner. Two accused — Rahul Rawat and Prashant of Gwalior — have been arrested in that case, while alleged kingpin Rakesh Prajapat remains absconding.
How large is the smuggling syndicate and which areas does it cover?
Preliminary investigations suggest the network has 20 to 25 members with an active presence in Jodhpur, Nagaur, and Pali districts of Rajasthan, in addition to Punjab. Seven special teams have been formed to trace absconding members, and the probe is being jointly conducted by Bikaner Police, Punjab Police, and central security agencies.
