Punjab continues to fight against drug menace; 514 drone sightings since 2022, 121 brought down
PTC News Desk: The number of drones spotted carrying suspected contraband and narcotics has climbed and so have the number of recoveries, said Sukhchain Singh Gill, Punjab's Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Headquarters.
"There have been 514 drone sightings from 2022 to date," IGP Gill told reporters on Tuesday. "However, recoveries (of contraband and narcotic substances) have increased as well. In a joint operation between the BSF and the Punjab Police, 121 drones (carrying drugs) were shot down."
The IGP went on to say of the recent recoveries, "Huge recoveries have been made in the recent past. There were five major recoveries in which narcotic substances in quantities of 40 kg, 38 kg, and 77 kg (narcotic items) were hauled in."
He highlighted how the state police collaborated with the Border Security Force (BSF) to combat drug trade and smuggling in the state.
"The BSF is the first line of defence on the border and Punjab Police represents the second line. We have been tracking the movement of plenty of drones that are being used to push drugs into the state from across the border. BSF is using anti-drone technology to track and take down these unmanned flying objects. We have also put together two committees, one for the long term and the other to address the immediate need for equipment. The state police, along with the BSF, are proactive in checking the smuggling of narcotics from across the border," IGP further said.
He stated that there had been numerous efforts in the recent past to smuggle arms and narcotics into Indian territory from across the border with the help of drones.
On Monday, BSF personnel discovered a drone carrying narcotics in a field near Roran Wala village in the Amritsar district.
- ANI
