Punjab Police seize 54 kg heroin in 4 days, 3 more held in Amritsar bust
Synopsis
In its third drug bust in four days, Punjab's Counter Intelligence unit in Amritsar has now seized a cumulative 54 kg of heroin — the latest haul intercepted after a drone-dropped consignment was tracked to a flyover deal on the Amritsar-Tarn Taran road. The pace and scale signal a sustained crackdown on cross-border smuggling networks.
Key Takeaways
CI Amritsar arrested three operatives — Prince , Malkit Singh , and Rajinder Singh — on 19 September 2026 .
17 kg of heroin was recovered from their vehicle near a flyover on the Amritsar-Tarn Taran road .
Total heroin seized by CI Amritsar in four days now stands at 54 kg , across three separate operations.
The consignment was reportedly delivered via a drone drop across the international border.
Earlier busts recovered 27 kg on 16 September (with a .30-bore pistol) and 10 kg on 18 September .
DGP Gaurav Yadav said investigation is ongoing to identify further network links.
Punjab Police's Counter Intelligence (CI) unit in Amritsar arrested three more operatives of a cross-border narcotics smuggling module on 19 September 2026 and recovered 17 kg of heroin from their possession, bringing the unit's total seizure to 54 kg in four days, according to Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav. The car used to transport the contraband was also impounded.
The three arrested individuals — Prince, Malkit Singh, and Rajinder Singh — are all residents of Kot Mit Singh in Amritsar, police said. This marks the third major counter-narcotics strike by CI Amritsar within a four-day window.
How the Operation Unfolded
According to DGP Yadav, CI Amritsar teams had received specific intelligence that three operatives had taken delivery of a drone-dropped heroin consignment and were planning a major drug deal beneath the flyover on the Amritsar-Tarn Taran road. Acting on that input, police established a checkpoint and intercepted the suspects' car near a park adjacent to the flyover. A search of the vehicle yielded the 17 kg cache.
Preliminary investigation has reportedly revealed that the accused were coordinating with cross-border smugglers and receiving consignments for onward supply within the region.
The Broader Four-Day Crackdown
Saturday's seizure is the third in a rapid succession of busts by CI Amritsar. On 16 September, four individuals were arrested with 27 kg of heroin and a foreign-made .30-bore PX5 pistol along with three cartridges. On 18 September, one person was held with 10 kg of heroin. Combined with Saturday's recovery, the unit has now seized 54 kg of heroin across these three operations.
The use of drone drops to deliver consignments across the border is a pattern that security agencies have flagged as a growing challenge along Punjab's international frontier with Pakistan.
Investigation and Next Steps
DGP Yadav said further investigation is underway to establish the complete forward and backward linkages of the smuggling network, identify additional persons involved, and dismantle the wider cross-border narcotics operation. Authorities have not yet disclosed whether the accused have been formally charged or remanded to custody.
The crackdown comes amid intensified efforts by Punjab Police to curb the flow of narcotics through drone-assisted smuggling routes, a method that has made traditional border surveillance increasingly difficult.
Point of View
Rendering traditional fencing and patrolling less effective. Punjab has seen a steady rise in drone-assisted narcotics deliveries over the past two years, and the pace of these seizures raises a harder question — how many consignments are getting through between the ones being caught? The recovery of a firearm alongside heroin in the 16 September bust adds a weapons-trafficking dimension that warrants separate attention.
NationPress
19 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much heroin has Punjab Police seized in the latest crackdown?
CI Amritsar has recovered a total of 54 kg of heroin across three operations in four days — 27 kg on 16 September, 10 kg on 18 September, and 17 kg on 19 September 2026.
Who were arrested in the 19 September heroin bust in Amritsar?
Police arrested three individuals — Prince, Malkit Singh, and Rajinder Singh — all residents of Kot Mit Singh in Amritsar. They were intercepted near a flyover on the Amritsar-Tarn Taran road.
How was the heroin being smuggled into Punjab?
Preliminary investigation indicates the consignment was drone-dropped across the international border. Authorities say the accused were coordinating with cross-border smugglers to receive and distribute the heroin.
Was any weapon recovered in the four-day crackdown?
Yes. In the first bust on 16 September, police also recovered a foreign-made .30-bore PX5 pistol with three cartridges, alongside 27 kg of heroin.
What is the current status of the investigation?
DGP Gaurav Yadav said investigation is ongoing to establish forward and backward linkages in the network and identify additional accused. Police aim to dismantle the wider cross-border narcotics operation.
