The Amritsar-Tarn Taran border has become a major hotspot for weapons smuggled from Pakistan via drones, according to recent police operations. On June 7, the Special Cell of Amritsar Police arrested Shamveer Gujrat, a resident of Madhya Pradesh, from Neshta village in Gharinda police station area. He was found in possession of a Glock pistol smuggled from Pakistan using a drone.
Arrest Exposes Cross-Border Network
Gujrat, from Jhatoli village in Indore, has two criminal cases against him. He came into contact with Pakistan-based smugglers through a foreign-based gangster who arranged the weapon. He traveled approximately 1,200 kilometers from his home district to collect the smuggled firearm. This arrest highlights the ease with which sophisticated weapons are being brought into Indian territory.
Surge in Weapon Seizures
According to police records, Punjab Police have confiscated over 400 small weapons smuggled from Pakistan in 2025. Following 'Operation Sindoor', launched after the Pahalgam terror attack, weapon smuggling has surged dramatically. Seizures are eight times higher than the previous year. Since March 1, 2025, when the Punjab Government launched campaigns against drugs and gangsters, Amritsar police have recovered around 325 pistols, most smuggled from Pakistan.
The Border Security Force (BSF) has also confirmed a massive rise in weapon smuggling. Over 200 advanced weapons, including AK-47 rifles, have been seized in 2025. In the past six months alone, 139 pistols smuggled from Pakistan by anti-national elements were recovered.
Amritsar-Tarn Taran Border Vulnerable
The BSF reports that Amritsar and Tarn Taran districts, which share around 200 kilometers of international border with Pakistan and have over 60 border outposts, have witnessed the highest number of drone intrusions and weapon recoveries. Regular recovery of sophisticated foreign-made weapons underscores a growing security challenge.
Weapons smuggled include Austrian Glock pistols, Beretta handguns, Turkish-made PX5 pistols, assault rifles, and sub-machine guns, along with high-quality ammunition. This steady stream of weapons is enhancing the capabilities of criminal elements and raising concerns among law enforcement agencies.
Replica Weapons, Lethal Impact
A senior police official noted that these smuggled weapons are replicas of original foreign-made firearms but are equally lethal. Unlike country-made weapons, these pistols are highly reliable, accurate, and easy to conceal. Their increasing presence is linked to extortion, gang rivalries, targeted killings, and organized crime. Law enforcement believes easy access to such weapons emboldens criminals and increases the potential for violent offenses.
Drone Technology Changing Smuggling
The emergence of drone technology has dramatically altered cross-border smuggling. Pakistan-based smugglers and handlers are increasingly using unmanned aerial vehicles to drop weapon consignments at predetermined locations along the Punjab border, bypassing traditional infiltration routes. Anti-drone measures by security agencies and Punjab Police have not yet yielded desired results.
