BSF and Police Seize Heroin Worth ₹12 Crore in Sri Ganganagar Drone Drop Operation
In a significant crackdown on cross-border narcotics trafficking, security agencies in Sri Ganganagar district have achieved a major breakthrough for the second consecutive day. Acting on precise intelligence, Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, in close coordination with local police, intercepted and recovered a substantial consignment of heroin valued at approximately ₹12 crore in the international market.
Drone-Dropped Consignment Intercepted in Srikaranpur Sector
According to official BSF sources, the intelligence branch received specific information regarding a planned heroin delivery via drone from Pakistan into the Karanpur area. Based on this credible input, BSF heightened vigilance along the international border and established special checkpoints at multiple locations under the jurisdiction of Border Out Post 3 FC.
Late on Sunday night and into the early hours of Monday, alert BSF personnel detected the distinct sound of a drone approaching from the Pakistani side. The drone was observed dropping an object in a field near BOP 3 FC. Acting with swift precision, security forces launched an immediate search operation and successfully recovered three packets from the field.
Upon thorough examination, the packets were found to contain a total of 2.240 kilograms of high-grade heroin, meticulously packed in three separate 500-gram units. The estimated street value of this seizure stands at approximately ₹12 crore, marking a significant blow to transnational smuggling networks.
Joint Operation Intensifies as Smugglers Evade Capture
Following the recovery, BSF promptly informed the Sri Ganganagar police, initiating a comprehensive joint search and blockade operation across the area. Despite the heightened security measures, the smugglers who had arrived to collect the consignment managed to escape under the cover of darkness. Police teams are currently conducting extensive searches to trace and apprehend the fleeing suspects.
Sri Ganganagar Superintendent of Police Harishankar Yadav provided detailed insights into the operation. "During routine patrolling, Sub-Inspector Malaram of Srikaranpur Police Station received crucial information from Sub-Inspector Atul Sharma of the 163 Battalion BSF, who is in charge of BOP 3 FPC," stated SP Yadav. "The intelligence pointed to suspected heroin in a field belonging to a local resident named Dilbagh Singh."
On Monday, a coordinated team comprising police personnel and BSF officials conducted a thorough search of the specified field. In addition to the 2.340 kg of heroin—slightly more than initially reported—the recovery included several personal items: a black bag, a jacket, a warm shawl, a lower garment, and two pairs of shoes. These items suggest the smugglers had prepared for an extended operation.
A formal case, registered as No. 76/2026, has been filed under Sections 8/21 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act against unknown accused persons. Investigative efforts are now focused on identifying and capturing the individuals involved in this sophisticated smuggling attempt.
Pattern of Escalating Cross-Border Narcotics Trafficking
This incident represents part of a disturbing pattern of intensified smuggling activities along the India-Pakistan border in Rajasthan. Just hours before this seizure, on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday, security forces made another major bust in the same region. From a kinnow orchard in Chak 19-O, under the jurisdiction of the same police station, authorities recovered 12.167 kg of heroin worth approximately ₹60 crore.
In that operation, four individuals were arrested on the spot. However, a notorious Punjab-based smuggler identified as Gurmel Singh, who is believed to be the mastermind coordinating drone deliveries from Pakistani smugglers, managed to evade capture. Intensive efforts are currently underway to locate and apprehend him.
Furthermore, only a few days prior to these events, five additional smugglers were arrested in the Rawla area of Sri Ganganagar district with 12 kg of heroin smuggled from Pakistan. During interrogation, it was revealed that this group had successfully transported another 12 kg consignment to Punjab earlier, highlighting the efficiency and scale of these operations.
These repeated and coordinated incidents strongly indicate that the Srikaranpur and Ghadsana sectors have become prime targets for sophisticated cross-border smuggling networks involving operatives from both India and Pakistan. The use of drones for narcotics delivery represents a significant evolution in smuggling tactics, posing new challenges for border security forces.
BSF and police authorities have emphasized their commitment to maintaining heightened vigilance and implementing advanced surveillance measures to combat this growing threat. The consecutive successful interceptions demonstrate improved intelligence coordination and operational readiness, yet the escape of key smugglers underscores the ongoing challenges in completely dismantling these well-organized networks.
