Punjab Police bust drone-fed smuggling module, seize 2.1 kg heroin and 7 pistols in Amritsar
Synopsis
Seven pistols sourced from Turkey, Italy, Austria, and China — all allegedly delivered by drone across the Punjab border to a 26-year-old with a prior criminal record. The Amritsar bust is a window into how transnational smuggling networks are exploiting aerial corridors to arm criminal elements deep inside India.
Key Takeaways
Amritsar Commissionerate Police dismantled a drug-and-arms smuggling module on 18 May 2025 .
Accused Khush Kumar , alias Bholu, 26 , of Gurwali Gate, Amritsar, was arrested with 2.1 kg heroin and 7 pistols .
Pistols originated from Turkey, Italy, Austria, and China , indicating a multi-source transnational supply chain.
Consignments were allegedly delivered via drones from across the border , with the accused in contact with a foreign handler through virtual numbers .
An FIR has been registered under Section 21-C NDPS Act and Section 25 Arms Act ; investigation is ongoing to identify associates.
The Amritsar Commissionerate Police has dismantled a cross-border drug and illegal arms smuggling network, arresting one accused and recovering 2.1 kg of heroin and seven sophisticated pistols in an intelligence-based operation, Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav announced on Monday, 18 May. The accused was reportedly receiving consignments via drone drops from across the international border and distributing them to criminal networks.
The Accused and His Criminal Background
The arrested individual has been identified as Khush Kumar, alias Bholu, 26, a resident of Gurwali Gate, Amritsar. According to police, Kumar carries a prior criminal history with cases registered against him under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the Arms Act, and multiple snatching offences.
A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against him under Section 21-C of the NDPS Act and Section 25 of the Arms Act at a police station in Amritsar.
The Arsenal: Seven Multi-Origin Pistols
The seven pistols recovered from Kumar's possession point to a sophisticated transnational supply chain. The cache includes a 9MM Gladiator (manufactured in Turkey), a 9MM Zigana X-SHOT, a .30 bore Beretta (manufactured in Italy), a .30 bore Zigana (manufactured in China), a .30 bore pistol (manufactured in Austria), another .30 bore (manufactured in China), and one additional .30 bore pistol. The variety of origins suggests the weapons were sourced through multiple channels before being consolidated for distribution.
Drone Smuggling and Foreign Handler Links
DGP Yadav said preliminary investigation has revealed that Kumar was in contact with a foreign-based smuggler through virtual numbers — a method commonly used to evade call tracing. Consignments of both heroin and weapons were reportedly delivered via drones flown across the border, a tactic that has become an increasingly documented challenge along Punjab's frontier with Pakistan.
Notably, this is not an isolated incident — drone-based smuggling along the Punjab border has drawn repeated alerts from security agencies over the past two years, with seizures of narcotics and weapons becoming more frequent.
How the Operation Unfolded
Commissioner of Police, Amritsar, Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said the operation was planned and intelligence-driven. Police teams first arrested Kumar and recovered the 2.1 kg heroin from his possession. Sustained interrogation subsequently led to the recovery of the seven pistols, which, according to Bhullar, were intended to be supplied to criminal elements for use in further crimes.
'Commissionerate Police Amritsar acted promptly and arrested the accused before the weapons could be circulated further,' Bhullar said.
Investigation Continues
Authorities say the probe is ongoing, with investigators working to map the full network, identify associates, and establish linkages to the foreign handler. The use of virtual numbers and drone delivery corridors suggests the module may be part of a larger organised operation. Further arrests are not ruled out, according to officials.
Point of View
Italy, Austria, China — is not the profile of a street-level dealer; it is the profile of a logistics node in a transnational arms pipeline. Punjab Police have arrested one man, but the more consequential question is whether investigators can trace the virtual-number handler abroad and disrupt the drone corridor itself. Repeated seizures along this border suggest interdiction is improving, but the supply chain keeps adapting. Until the foreign-end operators face legal consequences — which requires diplomatic and intelligence cooperation that rarely makes headlines — busts like this, however significant, remain downstream interventions.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized in the Amritsar drug and arms bust on 18 May 2025?
Police recovered 2.1 kg of heroin and seven pistols of various origins — including makes from Turkey, Italy, Austria, and China — from the arrested accused, Khush Kumar, alias Bholu, 26, of Amritsar.
How were the drugs and weapons being smuggled into Punjab?
According to preliminary investigation, consignments of heroin and weapons were delivered via drones flown across the international border. The accused was allegedly in contact with a foreign-based handler through virtual numbers to coordinate deliveries.
Who is the accused and what is his background?
The accused is Khush Kumar, alias Bholu, 26, a resident of Gurwali Gate in Amritsar. He has a prior criminal record with cases registered under the NDPS Act, the Arms Act, and snatching offences.
What legal action has been taken against the accused?
An FIR has been registered against Khush Kumar under Section 21-C of the NDPS Act and Section 25 of the Arms Act at a police station in Amritsar. Investigation is ongoing to identify other associates in the network.
Why is drone-based smuggling a concern in Punjab?
Drone smuggling along Punjab's border has become an increasingly documented threat over the past two years, with security agencies recording a rise in aerial deliveries of narcotics and weapons from across the border. The method is difficult to intercept and allows handlers to operate remotely from foreign soil.
