Joint ATS Operation Cracks Cross-Border Drug Pipeline from Pakistan to India
In a significant breakthrough, a cross-border drug trafficking pipeline originating from Pakistan's Tharparkar region and extending into Rajasthan has been dismantled by a coordinated operation involving the anti-terrorism squads (ATS) of Gujarat and Rajasthan. The joint effort led to the arrest of two individuals from Rajasthan who were intercepted while transporting approximately 5 kilograms of methamphetamine, with an estimated street value of Rs 25 crore, along National Highway 68.
Details of the Arrest and Seizure
The arrested men, identified as Shankarram Rameshram and Salman Lalakhan, are residents of Sajan Ka Par village in the Ramsar area of Barmer district, as confirmed by Gujarat ATS officials on Tuesday. The operation was initiated after Gujarat ATS received specific intelligence indicating that the duo was moving a consignment of methamphetamine smuggled across the Pakistan border. Acting swiftly on this input, senior officers formed a special team and collaborated with Rajasthan ATS, transforming it into a seamless interstate operation.
The joint team implemented intensive patrolling and nakabandi (checkpoints) along NH-68, a crucial route connecting Jaisalmer in Rajasthan to Banaskantha in Gujarat. On Monday evening, during routine checks, they intercepted a suspicious Eeco vehicle. Inside, authorities discovered a yellow bag containing five transparent packets of a banned substance, which field tests later confirmed to be methamphetamine. Both suspects were immediately taken into custody, and a case has been registered at the Sadar Barmer police station under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Investigation and Syndicate Links
During interrogation, the accused revealed that the drugs were smuggled from Pakistan by a handler named Masaat, who is believed to be a resident of the Tharparkar region in Pakistan. The consignment was allegedly dropped in the Barmer district, from where the two men collected it for onward distribution within India. Investigators have recovered critical digital evidence from the suspects' phones, including WhatsApp chats, call records, and videos, which are expected to play a pivotal role in uncovering the broader network involved in this illicit trade.
Authorities are now intensifying efforts to identify other members of the syndicate and trace the full distribution chain. This operation marks a crucial step in combating drug trafficking across the India-Pakistan border, with officials emphasizing the importance of continued vigilance and interstate cooperation to dismantle such networks effectively.
