Punjab Police Bust Cross-Border Drone Arms Smuggling Module in Amritsar, 5 Arrested With Rifle, Grenades and 13 Pistols

The Punjab Police have busted a cross-border arms smuggling network in Amritsar and arrested five people. A large haul of weapons, including an assault rifle, two hand grenades and 13 foreign-made pistols, was recovered from them.

The operation was carried out on 15 October 2026 by the Counter Intelligence wing of the Amritsar Police. Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav shared details of the case.

Who was arrested

Police have arrested five accused, including a father and son:

• Gurpreet Singh and Jaskaran Singh: Both from Ballarwal village in Ajnala, Amritsar district.

• Veenu: From Sagarpur, Batala.

• Amritpal Singh: From Rasulpur village, Batala.

• Gaurav Masih: From Gounspura village, Batala.

What was recovered

The police seized the following from the accused:

• Assault rifle: One .30-bore assault rifle.

• Grenades: Two grenades.

• Pistols: 13 imported pistols, including four 9mm Glock pistols and nine .30-bore pistols.

• Ammunition: 25 live cartridges.

• Vehicles: Two motorcycles allegedly used to move the consignments.

How the module allegedly worked

According to DGP Gaurav Yadav, Gurpreet Singh and Jaskaran Singh allegedly picked up weapons, ammunition and explosives that had been dropped by drones from across the international border. They acted on the instructions of a foreign-based handler, who stayed in touch with them through encrypted messaging apps.

The other three accused are alleged to have handled the next step, which was passing on the weapons further down the network.

How they were caught

The police team received a tip-off that the two men from Ballarwal would meet the other three near Teri village in the same area to hand over a consignment of arms. Acting on this input, police set up a trap at the spot and arrested all five along with the weapons.

Case registered

An FIR (No. 66) was registered on 15 October 2026 at the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) police station in Amritsar. The accused have been booked under:

• Arms Act: Sections 25 and 25(1-A).

• Explosive Substances Act: Sections 4 and 5.

• Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS): Section 61(2), which deals with criminal conspiracy.

Police said further investigation is under way to trace the full network, its links and any others involved. The handler has not been identified publicly.

A growing border challenge

Punjab shares a long international border with Pakistan. In recent years, drones have become one of the main ways used to smuggle weapons and drugs into the state. These small aircraft can fly across the border at night and drop packages in fields, where local contacts pick them up.

The Border Security Force (BSF), which guards the border, and the Punjab Police have stepped up efforts to stop such drops, including the use of anti-drone systems and closer coordination between agencies. Police said that with this bust, a dangerous stock of weapons was taken out of circulation before it could reach criminals or anti-national elements.

Why it matters

Weapons smuggled through such modules can end up with gangsters, criminals and groups trying to disturb peace in the state. Grenades and assault rifles, in particular, pose a serious threat to public safety. Breaking these networks early helps prevent violent incidents before they happen.

For aspirants

Cases like this show how border security today involves both the armed forces and the police working together. For aspirants preparing for the BSF, CAPF or state police exams, drone-based smuggling and counter-drone measures are important current affairs topics that often come up in interviews and general awareness papers.