Punjab CI busts cross-border heroin module, 20 kg seized in Amritsar
Synopsis
Punjab's Counter Intelligence wing cracked a drone-assisted cross-border heroin pipeline, seizing 20 kg of the drug and arresting operative Om Sharma of Tarn Taran. The bust exposes a Pakistan-linked supply chain using drones over the Ajnala border stretch — a method that is fast becoming the preferred route for narcotics trafficking into Punjab.
Key Takeaways
Counter Intelligence Amritsar arrested Om Sharma , a resident of Tarn Taran , recovering 20 kg of heroin on 1 August .
Heroin was allegedly smuggled across the Ajnala border area using drones by Pakistan-based associates .
Sharma was intercepted at Sohian Kalan on Fatehgarh Churian Road, Amritsar ; his car used for smuggling was also impounded.
An FIR was registered on 31 July under Sections 21, 25, and 29 of the NDPS Act at the State Special Operation Cell, Amritsar.
Investigation is ongoing to identify the full network and links to previously busted modules, according to DGP Gaurav Yadav .
Counter Intelligence (CI) Amritsar has dismantled a cross-border narcotics smuggling network, arresting one operative and recovering 20 kg of heroin from his possession, Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav announced on Saturday, 1 August. The accused, identified as Om Sharma, a resident of Tarn Taran, was intercepted in the Sohian Kalan area on Fatehgarh Churian Road in Amritsar, along with his car allegedly used for drug transportation.
How the Operation Unfolded
According to DGP Yadav, CI Amritsar received specific intelligence that associates of a foreign-based handler were actively trafficking heroin into Punjab. The drugs were allegedly being smuggled across the border in the Ajnala area using drones, with consignments sourced from Pakistan-based associates. Acting on a tip-off that Sharma had recently received a large heroin consignment and was en route to deliver it, a police team conducted a raid and intercepted him, recovering the 20 kg haul.
The Accused's Alleged Role
Preliminary investigation has revealed that Om Sharma was allegedly operating on the directions of a foreign-based handler linked to cross-border smugglers. He is accused of receiving heroin consignments in the border area and distributing them to multiple parties across Punjab. His vehicle, used as a transport tool in the smuggling operation, has also been impounded by police.
Legal Action Taken
A First Information Report (FIR) was registered on 31 July under Sections 21, 25, and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at the Police Station of State Special Operation Cell in Amritsar. The case is being investigated to map the full extent of the network.
Investigation and What Comes Next
DGP Yadav stated that further investigation is underway to establish linkages within the case, identify all members of the network, and uncover possible connections with previously busted narcotics smuggling modules in the state. This operation is part of Punjab Police's sustained counter-intelligence push against drone-assisted cross-border drug trafficking, which has emerged as a growing enforcement challenge along the India-Pakistan border.
Point of View
Suggesting that interdiction is catching individual couriers while the supply chain itself remains intact. The foreign-based handler angle, cited in multiple Punjab Police operations, points to a command structure that operates beyond domestic jurisdiction, making arrests of ground-level operatives like Sharma necessary but insufficient. The real measure of success will be whether CI Amritsar can roll up the network rather than clip its edges.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized in the Punjab Counter Intelligence heroin bust on 1 August?
Counter Intelligence Amritsar recovered 20 kg of heroin from accused Om Sharma of Tarn Taran, along with his car used for smuggling. The operation was announced by Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav on 1 August.
Who is Om Sharma and what is his alleged role?
Om Sharma is a resident of Tarn Taran, Punjab, allegedly acting as a courier and distributor for a foreign-based handler. He is accused of receiving heroin consignments smuggled across the Pakistan border and delivering them to other parties across Punjab.
How was the heroin being smuggled into Punjab?
According to police, heroin was being transported across the border in the Ajnala area using drones by Pakistan-based associates, before being handed to ground-level operatives like Sharma for onward distribution.
What legal sections have been invoked against the accused?
An FIR was registered on 31 July under Sections 21, 25, and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at the State Special Operation Cell police station in Amritsar.
Is the investigation still ongoing?
Yes. Punjab Police have stated that further investigation is underway to identify the full network, establish linkages, and explore possible connections with previously busted narcotics smuggling modules in the state.
