Amritsar.
Villages in Punjab’s border districts have become prime targets for Pakistani smugglers, who are using these locations to traffic weapons alongside massive quantities of drugs. In the year 2025 alone, 116,000 kilograms of drugs were smuggled across the Indo-Pak border. The Punjab Police are actively working to curb this illicit trade using anti-drone systems, a strategy that has led to the detection of a significantly higher number of drug smuggling cases. Consequently, the volume of seizures has also increased—a major blow to the narcotics trade.
According to reports, there has been a sharp rise in instances of drugs being dropped across the border via drones, a trend that has heightened the concerns of security agencies. The districts of Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Ferozepur, and Fazilka—which lie along Punjab’s 553-kilometer-long international border—are increasingly emerging as major conduits for smuggling operations. Statistical data reveals that while 47,475 kilograms of drugs were seized in 2023 and 46,227 kilograms in 2024, the year 2025 witnessed a massive surge, with the seizure figure skyrocketing to 116,000 kilograms. A report by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) confirms a persistent upward trend in drug smuggling cases involving drones across these border districts.
**Smuggling Cases Also Grave in Other States**
In Jammu and Kashmir, 5,708 kilograms of drugs were seized in 2024, followed by 4,491 kilograms in 2025. Gujarat saw seizures totaling 20,971 kilograms in 2024 and 22,758 kilograms in 2025. In Rajasthan, despite a high overall volume of seizures, a decline in the number of actual cases has been recorded; conversely, the situation in Punjab has deteriorated rapidly.
**Weapons and Counterfeit Currency Also Seized Alongside Drugs**
The NCB report further reveals that, in addition to narcotics, the smuggling of weapons, ammunition, and counterfeit currency across the Punjab border has also witnessed a significant increase. AK-47 and AK-56 rifles, RDX, and foreign-made weapons are being recovered from border areas, posing a significant threat to national security.
**Anti-Drone Systems: Government Steps Up Surveillance**
To curb drone-based smuggling, the Punjab government has launched an anti-drone system initiative starting from Tarn Taran. Nine state-of-the-art systems, installed at a cost of ₹51.41 crore, track the locations of drones and their control stations to provide real-time alerts. This has led to the detection of an increased number of smuggling cases, thereby aiding in the reduction of illicit trafficking. Furthermore, the government is actively conducting a “War Against Drugs” campaign, which is also contributing significantly to curbing smuggling activities.
