Punjab minister urges Centre to curb cross-border drug smuggling via drones
Synopsis
Punjab has registered over 52,000 FIRs and arrested more than 73,300 drug peddlers in 500 days — yet Health Minister Balbir Singh says the state can't win this war alone. His pointed demand: the Centre must deploy surveillance technology to stop drug-laden drones crossing from Pakistan, or share the blame for what reaches Punjab's youth.
Key Takeaways
Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh on 14 July urged the Centre to strengthen surveillance along the India-Pakistan border to check drone-based drug smuggling.
The state's 'Yudh Nashean Virudh' campaign, launched on 1 March 2025 , has completed 500 days of operations.
Since launch, 52,432 FIRs have been registered under the NDPS Act and more than 73,300 drug peddlers arrested.
621 high-value traffickers were caught carrying over 2 kg of heroin each.
Singh called on the Centre to dismantle international drug syndicates and criminal networks allegedly operating from prisons outside Punjab.
Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh on Tuesday, 14 July called on the Union Government to intensify surveillance along the India-Pakistan international border to intercept cross-border drug smuggling, asserting that the state is being deliberately targeted because of its shared boundary with Pakistan. The appeal came as the state marked 500 days of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's flagship anti-narcotics drive, 'Yudh Nashean Virudh'.
Punjab's Demand from the Centre
Speaking to reporters in Chandigarh, Minister Singh argued that while the Punjab government has deployed anti-drone systems and reinforced ground-level enforcement, the responsibility for securing the international border rests squarely with the Centre. He stressed that advanced surveillance technology capable of intercepting drug-laden drones already exists, and that effective interdiction is a matter of political will rather than technological limitation.
Singh also urged the Union Government to dismantle international drug syndicates and crack down on gangsters who reportedly operate criminal networks from prisons located outside Punjab. 'Punjab is fighting this battle on behalf of the entire nation, and it deserves full cooperation from the Union Government,' he said.
500 Days of 'Yudh Nashean Virudh'
Launched on 1 March 2025 by Chief Minister Mann, the 'Yudh Nashean Virudh' campaign has adopted what officials describe as a systematic and holistic approach — combining enforcement with rehabilitation and community participation. Since its launch, the drive has registered 52,432 FIRs under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. More than 73,300 drug peddlers have been arrested across the state, including 621 high-value targets caught with over 2 kg of heroin each.
Minister Singh said these numbers reflect the seriousness with which the state is dismantling drug networks, but acknowledged that enforcement alone cannot win the fight. He emphasised the need for public participation, compassion, and sustained rehabilitation efforts to protect Punjab's youth.
The Cross-Border Drone Threat
Drug trafficking via drones across the Punjab-Pakistan border has emerged as one of the most difficult enforcement challenges in recent years. Consignments dropped by drones are harder to intercept than traditional smuggling routes and have been linked to both narcotics distribution and arms supply to criminal networks. Punjab's deployment of anti-drone systems represents a state-level response, but security experts have long argued that comprehensive aerial surveillance requires Central agencies — including the Border Security Force (BSF) — to deploy dedicated counter-drone infrastructure along the entire border stretch.
What Happens Next
The minister's public appeal puts pressure on the Union Government ahead of what is likely to be a continued legislative and political debate over border security responsibilities. The Bhagwant Mann government has indicated it will sustain the 'Yudh Nashean Virudh' campaign until Punjab achieves a drug-free status — an ambitious target that will depend significantly on whether the Centre strengthens its border surveillance posture. All eyes are now on New Delhi's response.
Point of View
And the drone threat is real. What the statement sidesteps, however, is the distribution network within Punjab itself: drones can deliver, but it takes an entrenched local supply chain to sell. The campaign's numbers — 73,300 arrests in 500 days — are striking, but arrest volume is not the same as network dismantlement. The harder accountability question is recidivism and conviction rates, neither of which featured in Tuesday's briefing. Punjab's framing of itself as fighting a national battle is legitimate; it also conveniently deflects scrutiny from the state's own ground-level enforcement gaps.
NationPress
15 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Punjab demanding stronger border surveillance from the Centre?
Punjab shares an international border with Pakistan, and drug-laden drones crossing that border have become a major smuggling vector. Health Minister Balbir Singh argues that while the state has deployed anti-drone systems, comprehensive aerial surveillance is the Centre's responsibility — and the technology to intercept drug drones already exists.
What is the 'Yudh Nashean Virudh' campaign?
'Yudh Nashean Virudh' (War Against Drugs) is an anti-narcotics drive launched by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on 1 March 2025. It combines enforcement, rehabilitation, and community outreach to tackle drug abuse across Punjab, and completed 500 days of operations as of July 2025.
How many arrests have been made under the campaign?
Since its launch, the campaign has led to more than 73,300 arrests of drug peddlers across Punjab, including 621 high-value targets caught with over 2 kg of heroin each. A total of 52,432 FIRs have been registered under the NDPS Act.
Who is responsible for border security along the Punjab-Pakistan border?
Border security along international frontiers is a Central government responsibility, primarily managed by the Border Security Force (BSF). Punjab's demand is for the Centre to deploy advanced surveillance and counter-drone technology to prevent narcotics from being airdropped across the border.
What did Minister Singh say about criminal networks in prisons outside Punjab?
Singh urged the Centre to crack down on gangsters who allegedly operate drug and criminal networks from prisons located outside Punjab's jurisdiction. He said these organised networks cannot be dismantled by the state alone and require Central intervention.
