Afghan national, 2 juveniles among 6 held in Punjab for cross-border arms, drug racket
Synopsis
Amritsar Police have unravelled a cross-border racket with an unusual profile: an Afghan national, two juveniles, and a man who allegedly forged criminal ties while working in Uganda. The haul — Austrian-made Glocks, over a kilogram of heroin, and hawala cash — points to a sophisticated overseas-directed network that had embedded itself across Punjab's Majha and Doaba regions.
Key Takeaways
Amritsar Commissionerate Police arrested six individuals — including an Afghan national and two juveniles — on 5 June .
Recovered items include 1.035 kg heroin , five pistols (three Austrian-made 9mm Glocks), and ₹5 lakh in drug money.
The network allegedly operated under instructions from overseas handlers using social media platforms for coordination.
Key accused Ankush Barthwal reportedly established criminal contacts while working in Uganda .
The racket was active across Punjab's Majha and Doaba regions; further arrests are not ruled out.
Amritsar Commissionerate Police has dismantled a cross-border illegal arms, narcotics, and hawala network operating across Punjab, arresting six individuals — including an Afghan national and two juveniles — on 5 June. The operation led to the recovery of 1.035 kg heroin, five sophisticated pistols, and ₹5 lakh in drug money, Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav confirmed.
Who Was Arrested
Those taken into custody have been identified as Baz Mohammad, 62, an Afghan national originally residing in Sonipat, Haryana but recently relocated to Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi; Ankush Barthwal, 33, a resident of Guru Angad Dev Colony, Nawanshahr; Des Raj, 32, from Bhattian village, Jalandhar; Rajandeep Singh, a native of Amritsar; and two juveniles whose identities are protected. According to police, Mohammad, Barthwal, and Des Raj all have prior criminal records.
Arms and Narcotics Recovered
The weapons seized include three 9mm Glock pistols manufactured in Austria, a .30-bore Zigana, and one additional .30-bore pistol, along with two cartridges. The narcotics haul totalled 1.035 kg of heroin — recovered in two tranches during successive stages of the investigation.
How the Network Operated
Commissioner of Police, Amritsar, Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said police initially apprehended the two juveniles, recovering a Glock pistol and two cartridges from them. Subsequent disclosures led to the seizure of one more pistol and 500 grams of heroin. Continuing the probe, teams arrested Mohammad, Barthwal, and Des Raj, recovering three more pistols, 535 grams of heroin, and ₹5 lakh in drug money. Their interrogation then led to the arrest of Rajandeep Singh.
Preliminary investigation has revealed, according to DGP Yadav, that the accused were allegedly procuring consignments of illegal arms and narcotics through contacts established via social media platforms, acting on instructions from overseas handlers. The network was reportedly active across the Majha and Doaba regions of Punjab.
The Uganda Connection
A key element of the alleged network involves Barthwal, who had recently returned to India after a stint working in Uganda. According to investigators, a co-worker abroad introduced him to Mohammad, and after his return, Barthwal allegedly began facilitating the illegal supply of narcotics and weapons alongside Mohammad. This international dimension points to the growing use of overseas employment networks to establish cross-border criminal linkages.
What Comes Next
Investigators are continuing to probe the network's full reach, including the identity and location of its foreign-based handlers. With arms traced to Austrian manufacturers and heroin routed through cross-border channels, the case underscores the persistent challenge of transnational smuggling networks targeting Punjab's border districts. Further arrests are not ruled out as the investigation progresses.
Point of View
A returnee from Uganda, two juveniles, and social-media-directed overseas handlers — this is not a local peddler network. It reflects a well-documented pattern in Punjab where transnational criminal webs exploit legal migration corridors and youth vulnerability simultaneously. The presence of Austrian-manufactured Glocks is a red flag: these are not locally sourced weapons, and their supply chain deserves as much investigative attention as the narcotics. Punjab Police's operational success here should prompt a harder question — how many such networks remain undetected across Majha and Doaba?
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested in the Amritsar arms and drug bust?
Six individuals were arrested, including Baz Mohammad (62), an Afghan national residing in Delhi; Ankush Barthwal (33) from Nawanshahr; Des Raj (32) from Jalandhar; Rajandeep Singh from Amritsar; and two juveniles. Three of the adult accused have prior criminal records.
What was recovered in the Amritsar police operation?
Police recovered 1.035 kg of heroin , five pistols — including three Austrian-made 9mm Glocks, a .30-bore Zigana, and one other .30-bore pistol — along with two cartridges and ₹5 lakh in drug money.
How did the cross-border network allegedly function?
According to investigators, the accused procured arms and narcotics through contacts established on social media platforms and distributed them on instructions from overseas handlers. The network was reportedly active across Punjab's Majha and Doaba regions.
What is the Uganda connection in this case?
Accused Ankush Barthwal had recently returned from Uganda , where he was employed. Investigators say a co-worker there introduced him to Baz Mohammad , after which Barthwal allegedly joined the illegal arms and narcotics supply chain upon returning to India.
Which police officials confirmed the arrests?
Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav confirmed the arrests and recoveries, while Commissioner of Police, Amritsar, Gurpreet Singh Bhullar provided the operational details of how the network was dismantled in successive stages.
