JAMMU: J&K Police have arrested four suspects, including one from Punjab, in connection with the alleged cross-border smuggling of drugs and arms via drones in the border village of Arnia in Jammu district. An Italy-made Beretta pistol, two magazines, four live rounds, and over 1kg of narcotics were seized during subsequent searches, police said Tuesday.On Oct 3, cops manning a checkpoint at Arnia’s Tamala Bridge stopped two men moving on a bike around 10.45pm. One of the men, Rahul Kumar, was found carrying 264g of suspected heroin, a Beretta pistol, two magazines and four live rounds. Another 276g of suspected heroin was seized from the second man, Ajay Kumar Talhar. Both are residents of Arnia.During questioning, the accused allegedly confessed their links with Pakistan-based handlers and admitted to having received two air-dropped consignments in the past. Information obtained from the duo led cops to a third suspect, also named Ajay Kumar. He was arrested with 464g of opium resin and 13.3g of heroin, police said.
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Further probe revealed the involvement of a fourth suspect—Jaganpreet Randhawa alias Jaggi, believed to be a forward link in the smuggling nexus—who was arrested in Punjab.Arnia PS registered an FIR under relevant sections of the NDPS and Arms Acts. Officials said further investigation was underway.Many such cases have earlier been reported from forward areas along the Indo-Pak international border and the Line of Control in J&K. The probes were later handed over to NIA due to the magnitude of the smuggled contraband, arms and ammunition.
