Faridkot (Punjab): In a significant success in Punjab’s ongoing crackdown on cross-border crime, Counter Intelligence (CI) Faridkot, in coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF), has foiled a major smuggling attempt along the India-Pakistan land border near Border Outpost GG-3 in village Teja Rahela of Fazilka district. The joint operation led to the recovery of 2.1 kg of heroin and 21 sophisticated pistols along with a large cache of ammunition.
Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav said the operation was conducted as part of the state government’s sustained efforts to strengthen border security and maintain law and order, in line with the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. He said the recovered arms include 11 Glock pistols with magazines, a Beretta pistol, multiple Zigana and Norinco pistols, and a Ghaffar Security MP-5 type pistol, along with 310 live 9mm cartridges.
According to the DGP, preliminary investigations indicate that Pakistan-based smugglers crossed the zero line and moved close to the border fence, attempting to exploit night conditions and dense fog to push arms and narcotics into Indian territory. He said alert BSF personnel noticed the suspicious movement and fired several rounds to prevent the breach, following which a joint search operation was launched that led to the recovery of the consignment.
Assistant Inspector General of Police, Counter Intelligence, Gursewak Singh Brar said the operation was carried out based on specific intelligence inputs. He said police teams, in coordination with BSF Fazilka, planned a special ambush in the early hours of Thursday in the Teja Rahela area. As Pakistani smugglers attempted to push the consignment across the border, BSF troops responded swiftly, successfully thwarting the attempt and securing the area.
Brar said the recovery of such a large quantity of arms and narcotics points to a well-organised smuggling network. He added that further investigation is underway to identify and trace local operatives linked to the cross-border syndicate and to dismantle the entire network.
An FIR has been registered at Police Station SSOC Fazilka under sections 21-C and 29 of the NDPS Act and section 25 of the Arms Act. Authorities said investigations will continue to establish backward and forward linkages in the case.
