Amritsar: In a significant operation against transnational organized crime, the Amritsar Rural Police have dismantled a major cross-border arms smuggling network allegedly connected to operatives in both Canada and Pakistan.
Police officials confirmed the arrest of Amarbir Singh alias Amar, a resident of Dairiwal village under the Tarsikka police station in Amritsar district. During the raid, officers recovered nine pistols, eleven magazines, and 121 live cartridges, including .30 bore and 9mm ammunition.
Senior officials described the operation as a crucial step in curbing the illegal flow of weapons into Punjab. The accused, who had recently returned from Canada, is suspected of maintaining direct contact with arms suppliers across the border in Pakistan. Investigators believe the weapons were intended for criminal networks operating in Punjab and neighboring states.
Cross-Border Smuggling Module Busted Linked to Canada & Pakistan
In a major breakthrough, Amritsar Rural Police busts an illegal weapon smuggling module and apprehends Amarbir Singh @ Amar, resident of Dairiwal, PS Tarsikka, Amritsar and recover 6 pistols, 11 magazine, 91 live… pic.twitter.com/cHciT8lKgH
— DGP Punjab Police (@DGPPunjabPolice) October 14, 2025
According to preliminary findings, the seized weapons were part of a larger consignment smuggled through drone drops or cross-border couriers, a method increasingly used by Pakistan-based syndicates. The police are now focusing on identifying local facilitators and tracking the routes used for the movement of the consignment.
An FIR has been registered, and specialized investigation teams have been formed to uncover the full extent of the network, including its international financial and logistical channels. Authorities are also working to verify whether the accused acted as a courier for a larger organized group or operated independently under external instructions.
Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav commended the police team for the swift and coordinated action, saying, “Punjab Police remains resolute in its mission to eliminate organized crime and maintain peace across the state. The force will continue to track and dismantle such cross-border networks.”
This latest breakthrough adds to a growing list of successful operations targeting arms trafficking in the border belt of Punjab, where smuggling routes have often been exploited by anti-national elements. Officials said more arrests are expected as the investigation progresses, and the authorities aim to expose the entire nexus connecting handlers in Canada, suppliers in Pakistan, and receivers in India.
The case underscores growing concerns about the international dimension of Punjab’s crime networks and the use of foreign soil to orchestrate illegal activities targeting the state’s security and stability.
