Turkish-Made Weapons Flood Punjab via Drones as Cross-Border Smuggling from Pakistan Intensifies

A troubling new trend has emerged in Punjab’s battle against illegal arms trafficking: an influx of Turkish-made PX5 pistols smuggled into the state via drones originating from Pakistan. Recent seizures by law enforcement point to a growing nexus between terror outfits, foreign handlers, and a transnational weapons-smuggling network.

In the past month alone, Punjab Police have recovered multiple PX5 pistols—semi-automatic handguns manufactured by TISAS, a Turkish arms company—in a series of coordinated operations across Amritsar and Tarn Taran. Officials believe these weapons are being supplied to criminal gangs and terror modules in a deliberate attempt to destabilize law and order in the border state.

The most recent haul occurred on Saturday in Amritsar, where three PX5 pistols were recovered in two separate operations. Two pistols were found within city limits, while another was seized from the rural outskirts. Police also dismantled a Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) module reportedly operated by UK-based handler Dharam Singh alias Dharma Sandhu, a known associate of Pakistan-based gangster-turned-terrorist Harvinder Rinda.

In a related operation, the Amritsar Commissionerate Police arrested Onkar Singh and seized six pistols—including two PX5 and four Austrian-made Glock 9mm firearms. Meanwhile, in Lopoke village, Amritsar Rural Police apprehended Lovepreet Singh alias Love and Balwinder Singh alias Bobby with a PX5 pistol, over six kilograms of heroin, and ₹10,000 in suspected narcotic proceeds, suggesting a strong link between arms smuggling and the drug trade.

Earlier this month, on June 5, authorities intercepted eight foreign-made pistols, including four PX5s, from two suspects attempting to smuggle them via the Amritsar-Attari road. Intelligence suggests the consignment was dropped by a drone operated by a Pakistani handler named Noor. The next day, Tarn Taran Police recovered another batch of PX5 and Glock pistols, again believed to have been drone-dropped.

The PX5 is not the only Turkish weapon surfacing in Punjab. Zigana pistols, also manufactured in Turkiye, have been found in recent raids. This sudden rise in Turkish weaponry aligns with Turkiye’s growing military cooperation with Pakistan, particularly evident during a four-day border skirmish with India in May. Turkiye is reported to have supplied Pakistan with over 350 drones—including armed and kamikaze UAVs—that were used to strike Indian positions. Forensic analysis of drones downed during India’s counter-offensive, Operation Sindoor, confirmed that some were Turkish-made Asisguard Songar models. Two Turkish operatives were reportedly killed in the operation, further underscoring Ankara’s involvement.

This convergence of geopolitical alliances and localized criminal networks is complicating India’s internal security landscape. While the PX5 pistol is becoming the preferred weapon among smugglers, other high-calibre arms also persist. These include Austrian Glock 19X pistols known for their reliability, Italian-made Beretta .30 calibre guns, Spanish Star Mark pistols, and even American .45 bore firearms—some traced to handlers based in the United States.

Investigations have also revealed continued circulation of .32 bore pistols from both Indian and European sources.

Security agencies remain on high alert, warning that the increasing sophistication of drone-based smuggling and the surge in foreign arms could fuel gang rivalries and revive dormant terror networks in Punjab. As the trail stretches from Europe and the Middle East to the streets of Amritsar, the nexus of narcotics, terror, and smuggling is taking on international proportions.