Punjab’s Persistent Drug Crisis: Police Strike at Trans-Border Smuggling Ring Amidst Growing Narcotics Threat

By Poonam Sharma Punjab, a northern Indian state, has been a focal point for the international narcotics trade for decades. The area’s location next to the India-Pakistan border has had the unfortunate effect of turning Punjab into a nexus for smuggling activities, and heroin is one of the most commonly smuggled items. In spite of all the efforts by the state government and law enforcement agencies, the drug trade continues to cause havoc, particularly on the youth and vulnerable communities.  In 2022 According to sources 3 million people were addicted to drugs.

Recent police action has, however, highlighted the ongoing battle to break up these harmful criminal networks, focusing attention on the extent of the problem.

One such success was achieved recently, when the Punjab Police, in a quick raid, busted a trans-border narco-smuggling gang, resulting in the arrest of two men and the confiscation of a large quantity of heroin. The arrested men, Hardeep Singh, alias Deep, and Harjeet Singh, both natives of Thathi Sohal in Tarn Taran, are no strangers to crime. Both have criminal backgrounds and were said to be involved in the smuggling of heroin, which was thought to have been obtained from Pakistan-based cartels.

The heroin confiscated during the raid weighed an impressive 6 kg, and its street value runs into crores of rupees. This seizure is a big win for the Punjab Police, and their quick action shows their determination to put an end to drug trafficking in the state. But the success of the operation comes with the dire knowledge that this is only one of the numerous smuggling networks working in Punjab. The heroin, as per initial investigations, was believed to have been smuggled across the India-Pakistan border through advanced methods aimed at outsmarting security forces.

Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav revealed the details of the operation, giving credit to the intelligence-sharing and timely action of the local police in Tarn Taran. By the speedy establishment of the forward and backward linkages of the smuggling syndicate, arrests and confiscations were made on the drugs by the authorities, a classic demonstration of how illicit cross-border drug trade remains alive in the country. DGP Yadav, in his social media post on X (formerly Twitter), said the operation had eliminated an active nexus in the drug trafficking chain between India and Pakistan. 

Being a drug trafficking corridor is not new to Punjab. The fact that the state is strategically located on the border of Pakistan makes it a plus point for drug cartels in neighboring countries. Heroin has been among the most frequently smuggled drugs into Punjab for years, and the situation has only deteriorated with the international cartels taking advantage of the porous border. In accordance with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) data, Punjab has reported a steep rise in heroin seizures in the last decade, with the overall quantity of seized heroin increasing exponentially in recent years. In 2020 alone, the NCB seized more than 100 kg of heroin in Punjab, highlighting the magnitude of the narcotics business in the state.

The rise in heroin seizures is not only a measure of police achievement but also a stark reminder of the huge amount of drugs that keep pouring into the state. In spite of the maximum efforts of the police, such as huge raids, setting up narcotics control units, and enhanced collaboration between the central and state agencies, the drug business continues. The issue of drug trafficking in Punjab has also had extremely significant social, economic, and health consequences. Heroin and other narcotic drug abuse have caused a public health crisis in the state.

Youths, especially, have been lured into addiction, and many have fallen prey to drug syndicates. Indeed, the state’s drug abuse issue has taken alarming levels, with reports suggesting that close to 40 percent of Punjab youth have been touched by drug addiction. Heroin use has taken drastic leaps, bringing large-scale destruction to families and communities. The state government has responded with measures like the creation of special task forces to combat narcotics, as well as programs to rehabilitate addicts. Still, these efforts have not been sufficient to stem the enormity of the issue. The relentless smuggling in heroin from Pakistan, cleverly hidden at times, has been the chief obstacle.These efforts to combat narcotic smuggling have been complicated by the sheer volume of drugs entering the state and the complex web of criminal syndicates profiting from the trade. One major challenge in countering narcotics trafficking is the partnerships between international drug cartels and local traffickers. The Pakistani drug syndicates play a special role, with most heroin shipments suspected to be organized by cross-border criminal groups enjoying limited interference. The cartels frequently employ novel techniques to evade security screening, including the use of tunnels under the border, drones, and even hidden in unsuspecting couriers.

It is extremely challenging for law enforcers to trace and intercept packages. In spite of these problems, Punjab’s police department is still working hard. The recent arrest and drug seizure are a welcome change in the long fight. Punjab Police have been increasing their intelligence gathering systems, enhancing coordination with central agencies such as the NCB and BSF.

In addition, the state has been attempting to increase border vigilance so as to slow down the ease with which these drugs travel across from Pakistan. The authorities have highlighted that such actions are part of a wider drive to crack down on transnational drug syndicates. The latest bust is just one small victory in what has been an endless war against narcotic smuggling in Punjab. Further investigations are being carried out to track down other members of the syndicate, and police are working day and night to dismantle the entire syndicate of smugglers behind the business. All this concerted effort notwithstanding, the reach of the issue is still so wide. Failure by the government to fully root out the business of narcotics has been a major source of consternation to many, particularly the families that have been ruptured by dependence. The importance of an across-the-board policy that encompasses security at the border, public information, rehabilitation programs, and cross-border cooperation cannot be overstressed if the state is to notice any meaningful success in its campaign against drugs. In summary, although the recent breakthrough by the Punjab Police in bringing down a trans-border narco-smuggling network is a step in the right direction, it goes without saying that the war against drugs in the state is far from over. As long as the government and law enforcement agencies are unable to tackle the causes of drug smuggling and addiction in Punjab, the state will remain fighting this crushing crisis.