AI Generated Summary
- In a growing concern for national security, the Border Security Force (BSF) has recovered over 130 drones along the International Border with Pakistan in Punjab during the first six months of 2025, highlighting a sharp increase in drone-based smuggling activities.
- The rise in drone-based intrusions is part of an escalating trend in cross-border smuggling, which now frequently involves the use of China-manufactured drones, particularly the Mavick series.
- Last year, the BSF had neutralized nearly 294 drones and seized 283 kg of narcotics from the Punjab border region—almost triple the number of drone recoveries reported in 2023.
In a growing concern for national security, the Border Security Force (BSF) has recovered over 130 drones along the International Border with Pakistan in Punjab during the first six months of 2025, highlighting a sharp increase in drone-based smuggling activities.
According to official sources, the force also seized approximately 135 kilograms of narcotics—including large quantities of heroin—and confiscated 79 firearms between January 1 and June 30 this year. The rise in drone-based intrusions is part of an escalating trend in cross-border smuggling, which now frequently involves the use of China-manufactured drones, particularly the Mavick series. These drones are often found carrying packets weighing up to 550 grams, usually wrapped in distinctive yellow adhesive tape.
Last year, the BSF had neutralized nearly 294 drones and seized 283 kg of narcotics from the Punjab border region—almost triple the number of drone recoveries reported in 2023. The trend indicates an increasing reliance on unmanned aerial vehicles by smugglers to transport illegal consignments across the border.
Officers say the Amritsar–Tarn Taran belt and the Ferozepur region remain particularly vulnerable to such illicit activities. While much of the border is fortified, unfenced riverine stretches along the Sutlej River pose unique challenges for surveillance and patrolling due to the difficult terrain.
“Drone intrusions are not random. They are planned and precise,” said a senior BSF officer on condition of anonymity. “We are constantly upgrading our counter-drone systems and operational protocols to stay one step ahead.”
The BSF has enhanced its intelligence-gathering mechanisms, creating dedicated units to track both drones and smuggling operatives. Many seizures, sources reveal, are based on these internally generated intelligence reports. Coordination with the Punjab Police and other security agencies has also intensified, resulting in multiple joint operations targeting smuggling networks.
Fake currency and weapons are also part of the contraband that drones are used to transport, with border villages often serving as drop points. These activities not only threaten the region’s security but also feed into the broader challenges of narcotics addiction and organized crime within Punjab.
With the highest number of recoveries among all border states, Punjab has become a critical front in India’s fight against cross-border smuggling. The BSF, which oversees the International Border across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir, is placing renewed focus on the state.
Authorities are urging locals to report suspicious activities and drone sightings to support ongoing security efforts. As the technology and tactics of smugglers evolve, security forces say they are equally committed to adapting their response to ensure the integrity of the border.
