Border security: Anti-drone technology enables heroin smuggling decline in Punjab
The Punjab Police said on Sunday that the multi-layered response to counter drone-based narcotic smuggling across the international border with Pakistan in coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF) has led to a decline in availability of heroin in Punjab.
IANS
Sep 13, 2026 08:26
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Chandigarh, Sep 13 (IANS) The Punjab Police said on Sunday that the multi-layered response to counter drone-based narcotic smuggling across the international border with Pakistan in coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF) has led to a decline in availability of heroin in Punjab.
The police are deploying nine anti-drone systems, with three 'Baaj Akh' systems that have been operational in Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Ferozepur since August 2025, providing early detection and jamming of rogue drones.
Three units of Drone Sense D200 Pro, a long-endurance mobile drone detection platform, deployed at strategic locations in border districts on September 3 showing results.
"The system precisely detects and pinpoints drone-related activity and actual dropping locations, enabling timely ground intervention. For immediate ground action, 52 drone response teams (DRT) with 147 police personnel work in close coordination with the BSF responding to drone alerts, reaching suspected drop locations, conduct searches and intercept persons collecting the dropped consignments. This response is supported by 64 second-line defence nakas with 600 police personnel and 2,367 CCTV cameras at 585 locations," a police spokesperson said.
The Village Defence Committees (VDCs) in border areas have been integrated with the drone response teams.
The VDCs serve as "eyes and ears" of the police.
The "Yudh Nashiyan Virudh" campaign has resulted in arrest of nearly 80,000 people since March 1, 2025.
A total of 486 drones have been recovered.
Financial investigation is being used to disrupt the economic base of drug network with freezing of property worth more than Rs 336 crore.
The reward policy for anti-drug information provides cash reward of Rs 25,000 for every drone recovery and nearly Rs 2 crore has been disbursed under the reward policy this year.
The spokesperson said latest trends indicate that pharmaceutical drugs smuggled from other states have emerged as the most important challenge in drug law enforcement in Punjab.
According to data analysed from pharmaceutical seizures in the state, most of the pharmaceutical drugs are not manufactured in Punjab and are manufactured in Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, etc.
--IANS
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