Punjab Police seize 36 kg heroin in Amritsar, 4 arrested including juvenile
Synopsis
Counter Intelligence Amritsar intercepted a drone-smuggled heroin consignment of 36 kg near the Bharatmala highway bridge, arresting four people including a juvenile. The accused were allegedly directed by a foreign-based handler coordinating deliveries across the India-Pakistan border in the Lopoke area — the latest in a pattern of drone-linked drug smuggling that continues to test Punjab's border security.
Key Takeaways
Punjab Police CI Amritsar seized 36 kg of heroin near the Bharatmala highway bridge on 6 November 2026 .
Four individuals were arrested, including a juvenile ; accused Paramjeet Singh has three prior NDPS Act cases .
Heroin was allegedly drone-smuggled across the India-Pakistan border in the Lopoke area .
Accused were reportedly acting on instructions from a foreign-based handler .
Two motorcycles used to transport the narcotics were impounded.
An FIR has been registered under Sections 21, 25, and 29 of the NDPS Act at Police Station State Special Operation Cell, Amritsar .
Punjab Police's Counter Intelligence (CI) unit in Amritsar has dismantled a cross-border narcotics smuggling network, arresting four individuals — including a juvenile — and seizing 36 kg of heroin in a targeted operation near the Bharatmala highway bridge, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav announced on Friday, 6 November. The haul is among the largest single recoveries reported in the Amritsar border belt this year.
The Arrested Accused
Those taken into custody have been identified as Sahil Singh, a resident of Ghanupur in Amritsar; Paramjeet Singh and Kamalpal Singh, both residents of Rajasansi in Amritsar; and an unnamed juvenile. Paramjeet Singh reportedly carries a criminal history, with three prior cases registered against him under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Police also impounded two motorcycles that were allegedly used for the logistical movement of the narcotics consignment.
How the Operation Unfolded
According to DGP Yadav, Counter Intelligence Amritsar received specific intelligence indicating that the four suspects had retrieved a large consignment of drone-smuggled heroin from the Lopoke border area near the India-Pakistan frontier and were preparing to hand it over to another party along the Amritsar-Lopoke Road. Acting on this tip, police teams moved swiftly and intercepted the group near the Bharatmala highway bridge before the transfer could take place.
The Foreign-Based Handler Link
Preliminary investigation has revealed that the accused were allegedly operating on the instructions of a foreign-based handler, who was reportedly coordinating heroin deliveries near the border in the Lopoke area and distributing consignments through local operatives. The smuggling method — using drones to ferry narcotics across the India-Pakistan border — reflects a growing operational trend that security agencies have flagged repeatedly in Punjab's border districts. This is not an isolated incident; CI Amritsar and other state units have recorded multiple drone-linked drug seizures along this frontier in recent months.
Legal Action and Next Steps
A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered at Police Station State Special Operation Cell in Amritsar under Sections 21, 25, and 29 of the NDPS Act. DGP Yadav stated that the investigation is ongoing to map the full extent of the smuggling network, trace the foreign-based handler, and identify other recipients of previous consignments. The involvement of a juvenile has added another dimension to the probe, with authorities expected to follow the prescribed legal process under the Juvenile Justice Act.
The operation underscores the persistent challenge Punjab faces from cross-border narcotics trafficking — a challenge that law enforcement has repeatedly linked to Pakistan-based networks exploiting the state's proximity to the international border.
Point of View
And each fresh bust reveals a network that is resilient, decentralised, and demonstrably recruiting minors. The foreign-handler angle will test the limits of domestic investigation; identifying and neutralising that layer requires cross-agency coordination and, potentially, diplomatic pressure. Until the demand-supply equation in Punjab's hinterland changes, busts of this scale will remain tactical wins in a structurally unresolved crisis.
NationPress
6 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much heroin was seized in the Amritsar operation and where?
Police recovered 36 kg of heroin near the Bharatmala highway bridge on the Amritsar-Lopoke Road on 6 November 2026 . The consignment had allegedly been drone-smuggled across the India-Pakistan border in the Lopoke area.
Who were the individuals arrested in the Amritsar drug bust?
The four arrested are Sahil Singh of Ghanupur, Paramjeet Singh and Kamalpal Singh of Rajasansi — all in Amritsar — and an unnamed juvenile. Paramjeet Singh has three prior cases under the NDPS Act.
What is the foreign-based handler connection in this case?
Preliminary investigation suggests the accused were allegedly acting on instructions from a foreign-based handler who was coordinating drone deliveries of heroin near the India-Pakistan border in the Lopoke area. The handler's identity is still being established as investigation continues.
What charges have been filed in the case?
An FIR has been registered under Sections 21, 25, and 29 of the NDPS Act at Police Station State Special Operation Cell in Amritsar. The juvenile will be processed under the applicable provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act.
How are drones being used to smuggle drugs across the Punjab border?
According to security agencies, drones are used to drop narcotics consignments from across the Pakistan border into areas like Lopoke in Amritsar district. Local operatives then retrieve the packages and distribute them further inland — a tactic that has been reported in multiple seizures across Punjab's border belt.
