In a major breakthrough under the ongoing “Gangster Free Punjab” campaign, the Amritsar Commissionerate Police have dismantled a cross-border arms and narcotics smuggling network, arresting five operatives and seizing a significant cache of illegal weapons, heroin and drug money. The intelligence-led operation was carried out as part of the state-wide crackdown launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eliminate organized crime and gangster networks from Punjab.
Confirming the development, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav said that the arrested individuals were actively linked to a cross-border smuggling syndicate operating through drone-based deliveries from across the international border. The police recovered six sophisticated pistols, 115 grams of heroin and ₹11.90 lakh in drug proceeds from their possession, dealing a serious blow to illegal arms and narcotics networks operating in the border district.
The arrested accused have been identified as Simaranjeet Singh alias Mannu (24), Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi (20), Sukhraj Singh alias Joga (24) and Sajan Singh alias Gursajan Singh alias Ladda, all residents of village Roda Wala Kalan in Amritsar district, along with Molakdeep Singh (23), a resident of village Ranike in Amritsar. Police teams also impounded a Hyundai Creta vehicle that was allegedly being used to transport smuggled consignments.
According to the police, the recovered weapons include two 9mm Glock pistols manufactured in Austria, one Zigana pistol made in Turkey, two .32 bore pistols and one .30 bore pistol, along with ten live cartridges. The seizure of foreign-made pistols highlights the increasing sophistication and international linkages of criminal networks operating in Punjab’s border belt.
DGP Gaurav Yadav stated that preliminary investigations have revealed that the accused were receiving consignments of arms and narcotics through drones launched from across the border. He said that further investigation is underway to establish both forward and backward linkages of the network, including handlers, financiers and end users of the illegal weapons and drugs.
Sharing operational details, Commissioner of Police Amritsar Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said that police teams acted on credible and specific intelligence inputs regarding cross-border smuggling activities. During the initial operation, the accused were apprehended along with their vehicle, and two .32 bore pistols were recovered. Subsequent interrogation led to further recoveries, including four additional pistols, heroin and a large amount of drug money, clearly indicating the organized nature of their criminal activities.
The CP further revealed that investigations have shown that Simaranjeet Singh alias Mannu, Molakdeep Singh and Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi are repeat offenders and have previously been booked in cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. This points towards their long-standing involvement in drug trafficking and organized crime.
Police have also found that Simaranjeet Singh alias Mannu had earlier worked as a truck driver in Dubai, and investigators are now examining possible international financial trails, including hawala transactions, linked to the smuggling network. Authorities are closely tracking money flows to identify overseas links and key coordinators behind the operation.
In this connection, an FIR No. 21 dated February 3, 2026, has been registered at Police Station Cantonment, Amritsar, under Sections 25 and 25(8) of the Arms Act and Sections 21B, 27A and 29 of the NDPS Act.
Senior police officials reiterated that Punjab Police remains committed to dismantling gangster, drug and arms networks operating in the state. They emphasized that intelligence-based operations and strict legal action will continue to ensure that Punjab is freed from the grip of organized crime and cross-border smuggling syndicates.
