**Punjab Police Bust Cross-Border Arms and Narcotics Smuggling Network Linked to Pakistan**
Chandigarh: Punjab Police on Thursday announced the bust of a cross-border arms and narcotics smuggling network with direct links to Pakistan. The operation led to the arrest of five operatives, including one juvenile, and the recovery of 12 sophisticated .30 bore pistols along with 1.5 kg of heroin.
Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab, Gaurav Yadav, identified the accused as Joban Singh (22), Karandeep Singh alias Pandit (19), and Ajaypal Singh (18), all residents of Tarn Taran; Jashanpreet Singh (18) from Amritsar; and a 16-year-old juvenile.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Joban Singh and Jashanpreet Singh were in direct contact with Pakistan-based smugglers. They communicated via social media platforms to coordinate the receipt and delivery of arms and narcotics consignments. The smuggled weapons were intended to fuel inter-gang rivalries within Punjab.
During a naka operation, police teams arrested Joban Singh, Karandeep Singh, and Ajaypal Singh, recovering five .30 bore pistols from their possession. Further disclosures led to the apprehension of Joban Singh’s associates, Jashanpreet Singh and the juvenile, from whom seven more pistols were seized.
DGP Yadav also revealed that Pakistan-based smugglers were using drones to drop arms and narcotics consignments across the border. Additionally, a concealed consignment of 1.5 kg heroin was recovered during the operation.
The Punjab Police continue to investigate the network to dismantle further links and curb the flow of illegal arms and narcotics in the region.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/punjab-news-juvenile-among-5-held-with-12-pistols-15-kg-heroin