In a major cross-border crackdown, the Anti–Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of the Amritsar range dismantled two smuggling rings on Wednesday, apprehending three individuals and seizing a cache of narcotics and sophisticated weaponry. The operation, carried out based on an intelligence tip-off, marks a significant blow to trafficking networks operating along the India–Pakistan border.
Acting swiftly, ANTF officers intercepted a vehicle near Shankar Dhaba on the Attari Road, detaining Maninderjit Singh (of Fatehgarh Churian), Peter (surname withheld), and Lovejit Singh—alias “Raja” (both from Dharamkot Randhawa village, Dera Baba Nanak). A coordinated search of their possessions yielded 521 grams of heroin, four PX5 Storm semi-automatic pistols, seven magazines, 55 live rounds, and two motorcycles used to transport contraband.
Police sources revealed that the drugs and arms were ferried into Indian territory from Pakistan via drone drops. “Both cells were orchestrated by a foreign-based handler linked to Pakistan-based cartels,” disclosed Punjab Police Director General Gaurav Yadav, confirming that the operation targeted two separate consignment routes. According to investigators, Maninderjit retrieved the heroin consignment from Dhanoe Kalan village, while Peter and Lovejit collected the firearms from Rajatal village in the Attari sector.
During custodial interrogation, officers uncovered contact lists of Pakistan-based smugglers on the suspects’ mobile phones, said Gurpreet Singh, Superintendent of Police (SP), ANTF. “We are now tracing those links to map the entire distribution network—both upstream suppliers and downstream distributors,” he added, hinting at further arrests.
Background checks indicate that Maninderjit Singh had recently returned from stints in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, where he reportedly forged connections with international drug peddlers under the direction of the foreign handler. Employed as a nightclub bouncer locally, this marked his first known foray into narcotics trafficking, spanning roughly a month. Peter, meanwhile, had applied for relocation to Hong Kong, suggesting he was poised for transnational operations. Lovejit Singh was also making his inaugural smuggling attempt.
A formal case has been registered at the ANTF police station in Mohali under provisions of both the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Arms Act. With this dual-module bust, Punjab’s ANTF underscores its ongoing commitment to severing the lifelines of cross-border crime.
