Jaipur: Bikaner police have linked inmates lodged in Punjab’s Faridkot and Bathinda jails to a ₹50-crore cross-border narco-arms racket after the seizure of 10 kg of Afghan heroin, 11 foreign-made pistols, 22 magazines and 100 live cartridges near Khajuwala along the India-Pakistan border.Investigators told TOI that the jailed operatives were in contact with Pakistan-based smugglers and allegedly coordinated the drone drop into Rajasthan. They said the consignment was to be transported to Punjab after being collected from the border area.“We are collecting evidence on Pakistani handlers, drone operators and Punjab-based receivers, with more arrests likely. So far, it has been found that the haul was to be delivered to some of the criminals lodged in Faridkot and Bathinda jails,” a senior police officer said.Bikaner SP Mridul Kachawa said more accused had been identified. “Our teams will soon visit Punjab for further investigation and arrests,” Kachawa said Monday.He said Pakistani smugglers frequently change their infiltration and drone-drop routes along the international border, shifting operations between Sri Ganganagar, Hanumangarh and Bikaner’s Khajuwala sector to evade security agencies. Investigators believe the latest seizure has exposed one such route that was being used to push narcotics and weapons into India.The seizure was made near the international border Sunday. Police arrested the alleged receiver, Virendra Singh, a resident of Jaitaran in Pali district, who had reportedly arrived to collect the consignment. His motorcycle was also seized.Investigators said the consignment was meant to be transported to Punjab. “These were meant to be delivered to these criminals, who might be using them for intimidation, robbery, loot, or contract killing. These questions will be answered only after further arrests,” Kachawa said.Police suspect the jailed operatives coordinated the logistics while Pakistan-based handlers managed the drone operation across the international border.Police are also tracing the financial transactions, communication records and interstate links of the accused to establish the supply chain. Investigators said the probe aims to identify the Pakistan-based smugglers, drone operators and Punjab-based recipients, besides dismantling the organised cross-border narco-arms network.
