Chandigarh: In a significant step to curb the growing menace of cross-border drone smuggling, the Punjab Police have introduced ‘Hawai Nakas’ (aerial checkpoints) equipped with advanced anti-drone technology to intercept unmanned aerial vehicles allegedly carrying narcotics and weapons from Pakistan.
Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said the newly established aerial surveillance network serves as a second layer of defence, complementing the Border Security Force (BSF), which continues to guard the international border. The initiative has been launched in coordination with the BSF, the Indian Army and intelligence agencies.
The state has installed three anti-drone systems—two in Tarn Taran and one in Amritsar Rural—at an estimated cost of ₹53 crore. These systems currently monitor nearly 210 kilometres of the border belt spanning Amritsar Rural, Tarn Taran and Ferozepur, areas identified as highly vulnerable based on intelligence inputs and recent drone activity.
Punjab has witnessed a sharp rise in drone-based smuggling attempts over the past two years. According to official figures, security agencies recovered 474 drones and seized 777.474 kilograms of heroin along the Punjab border between 2025 and July 27, 2026. While 313 drones and 385.119 kg of heroin were seized in 2025, the first seven months of 2026 alone saw the recovery of 161 drones along with 392.355 kg of heroin, indicating that smugglers are transporting larger consignments despite fewer drone recoveries.
Sharing a 553-kilometre international border with Pakistan, Punjab remains vulnerable to cross-border smuggling through districts including Pathankot, Gurdaspur-Batala, Amritsar Rural, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Fazilka. Officials said traffickers are increasingly relying on drones to drop consignments at pre-determined locations, where local operatives quickly retrieve and distribute them.
To strengthen ground surveillance, the Punjab Police have also identified 64 strategic naka points across the border districts. Of these, 28 checkpoints are currently operational, staffed by 317 personnel, including Punjab Police officers and Home Guards. Nineteen of these checkpoints function jointly with the BSF, ensuring close coordination between state and central security agencies.
Technology has also become a key component of the border security network. Authorities have installed 87 CCTV cameras at 25 key locations within the naka grid, forming part of a much larger surveillance system comprising 2,336 cameras deployed across Punjab’s border region at a cost of nearly ₹50 crore.
Officials said the anti-drone strategy is being continuously upgraded as drone technology used by smugglers becomes increasingly sophisticated. A recent review of permanent checkpoints resulted in the closure of four redundant nakas in Amritsar Rural while three new high-tech checkpoints were added. At present, 65 of the 68 permanent nakas have been modernised.
The Punjab government has also approved ₹47.97 crore for the 2026–27 financial year to further enhance border security infrastructure. The funds will be used to procure unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), bomb disposal equipment, and bulletproof jackets, aimed at strengthening the operational capabilities of security personnel deployed along the international border.
Officials believe the combination of aerial surveillance, advanced anti-drone systems, enhanced ground checkpoints and an extensive camera network will significantly improve Punjab’s ability to detect and prevent cross-border smuggling activities.
