Heroin-filled coke bottle attached to drone recovered near Punjab's international border
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Amritsar: The Border Security Force (BSF) and the Punjab Police collaborated in a successful operation to recover a bottle filled with drugs near the International Border in the Amritsar district of Punjab.
This operation came in response to specific intelligence inputs regarding drug smuggling into the region via drones, a new method employed by narcotics smugglers from Pakistan.
The recovered drone was identified as a Chinese-built DJI Mavic 3 Classic quadcopter. This model is known for its capabilities, including a maximum flight time of 46 minutes and the ability to transmit high-definition video up to a distance of 15 kilometres. The drone was found in a paddy field in the village of Rajatal.
Authorities suspect that the drug contained in the recovered bottle is heroin, with an estimated weight of approximately 0.54 kilograms. This seizure marks another instance where law enforcement agencies thwarted the efforts of narcotics smugglers attempting to transport drugs into Punjab using drones.
The Indian government, recognising the evolving threat posed by drones in smuggling drugs and weapons, has outlined an action plan to address this issue. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during the 31st Northern Zonal conference held in Amritsar, announced the deployment of dedicated teams specialising in drone technology and anti-drone measures across border states.
This initiative aims to enhance border security and prevent the smuggling of drugs and weapons from Pakistan into India.
Home Minister Amit Shah affirmed the government's commitment to bolstering border security, emphasising the deployment of anti-drone systems along India's borders. He highlighted that Pakistan is exploiting technology to facilitate the smuggling of weapons and drugs into India via drones.
In August, the Indian government informed Parliament that Pakistan was using drones to supply weapons and narcotics in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. While infiltration levels in Jammu and Kashmir have decreased, Pakistan continues to sustain terrorism and employs technology, such as drones, for illicit activities across the border.