Punjab Police Thwarts ISI's 'Audacious' Cross-Border Arms Smuggling Attempt in Fazilka
In a significant counter-intelligence operation, the Punjab Police, in coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF), successfully foiled a daring cross-border intrusion by operatives of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The incident, which occurred on the intervening night of January 27 and 28, 2026, involved an attempt to physically push a large consignment of arms, ammunition, and heroin into Fazilka district from across the international border.
Technical Intelligence Leads to Preemptive Bust
Senior officials revealed that the Counter Intelligence (CI) wing of the Punjab Police detected the Pakistani plans ahead of time through technical intelligence. Acting on this information, a joint team of Punjab Police and BSF personnel lay in wait as ISI operatives, taking advantage of heavy fog conditions, crossed into Indian territory near the border fencing.
"The ISI has been pushing arms and ammunition into Punjab regularly through drones and riverine routes in the recent past, especially after Operation Sindoor. However, this time an audacious attempt was made by crossing the International Border and reaching close to the border fencing to drop off the consignment of arms," a senior counter-intelligence officer stated.
When BSF personnel fired upon the intruders, the Pakistani operatives fled, abandoning their deadly cargo. The recovered cache included:
- 11 Glock pistols with 22 magazines
- 1 Beretta pistol with 1 magazine
- 5 Zigana pistols with 10 magazines
- 3 Norinco pistols with 5 magazines
- 1 Ghaffar Security pistol (MP-5 type) with 1 magazine
- 310 live 9MM cartridges
- 2 kilograms of heroin
The weapons were recovered from Border Outpost GG-3 at Teja Rahela village in Fazilka district.
Targeting Gangster Networks and State Stability
Punjab Police officials emphasized that the seized weapons were intended for supply to various gang members who engage in extortion and killings across Punjab. These criminal elements operate at the behest of gangsters living abroad, particularly in foreign countries.
"The ongoing police crackdown on gangsters has disrupted their supply chain of weapons, and therefore the physical bid to push in the arms and ammunition was a clear bid to help out these criminal elements and vitiate the atmosphere in the state," an intelligence officer explained.
Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav confirmed that preliminary investigations revealed Pakistan-based smugglers crossed the zero line and operated close to the border fence, attempting to exploit night conditions and dense fog to push arms and narcotics into Indian territory.
Pattern of Cross-Border Smuggling Activities
The Indo-Pak border in Punjab remains a critical area for cross-border smuggling of arms, ammunition, and narcotics from Pakistan. Recent seizures indicate a consistent pattern of drone-based deliveries, foreign-manufactured weapons, and narcotics often accompanying arms as a funding source for trafficking.
Notable incidents from mid-2025 to early 2026 include:
- January 29, 2026: Amritsar Rural police recovered 42.983 kg of heroin, four hand grenades, one Star Mark pistol, 46 live .30 bore cartridges, and an abandoned motorcycle.
- January 28, 2026: Amritsar police dismantled a narco-arms smuggling module, recovering 1.5 kg of heroin, Rs 1.98 lakh in drug proceeds, two pistols, and 34 cartridges manufactured by Pakistan Ordnance Factory.
- January 18-19, 2026: Pathankot police recovered three AK-47 rifles, five magazines, two pistols, and 98 live cartridges linked to Pakistan-based Babbar Khalsa International operative Harvinder Singh alias Rinda.
- November 4, 2025: Punjab Police seized two AK-47 rifles near the Indo-Pak border in Amritsar from drone-dropped consignments.
- September 12, 2025: Authorities arrested two individuals and seized 16 pistols, 38 magazines, 1,847 rounds of ammunition, and one motorcycle near the border.
Strengthening Border Security Measures
Punjab Police's approach—relying on intelligence-led actions, community involvement through Village Defence Committees, and coordination with BSF—has resulted in substantial recoveries of heroin and weapons throughout 2025–2026. However, the continued incidents emphasize the need for stronger border measures, including advanced anti-drone systems and enhanced surveillance capabilities.
The Fazilka operation represents a significant victory in India's ongoing efforts to secure its borders against state-sponsored smuggling attempts that aim to destabilize internal security and support criminal networks operating within Punjab.
