AMRITSAR, Nov 5 — Amritsar Rural Police has busted multiple illegal arms, explosives and drug-trafficking networks in Punjab's border district of Amritsar, arresting 16 accused and recovering 34 kilograms of heroin along with a cache of weapons and explosives, Punjab Police announced on Thursday. The seizures and arrests were announced by the Punjab Police in an official post on November 5, and the recoveries are police claims that have not yet been tested in court.

Source: Punjab Police (official post)

34 kgHeroin recovered by Amritsar Rural Police, in four packages shown in the police photograph
16Accused arrested as police dismantled multiple arms, explosives and drug networks
2 Uzi guns + 1 shotgun + 5 pistolsFirearms seized, according to police
2 hand grenades + 26 live cartridgesExplosives and ammunition recovered
3Firing incidents police say the operation solved
5 police stationsFIRs registered at Gharinda, Beas, Mehta, Lopoke and Chatiwind

What police say was seized

According to police, the recovery includes five illegal pistols, two sophisticated Uzi guns, two hand grenades, 34 kilograms of heroin and 26 live cartridges, Newspop reported, citing officials. The official police photograph of the seizure also shows a shotgun laid out with the other weapons and four packages of the recovered heroin. Police said the operation led to the detection and resolution of three firing incidents in the district.

Source: Newspop

Foreign-handler allegation and the FIRs

Preliminary investigations have revealed, police said, that the accused were allegedly in contact with foreign-based handlers who facilitated the supply of illegal weapons for further distribution among criminal elements. That handler link is a preliminary police allegation at this stage, not a court finding. Separate FIRs have been registered at police stations Gharinda, Beas, Mehta, Lopoke and Chatiwind in Amritsar district, police said.

Source: Newspop

Police said further investigation is underway to establish the backward and forward linkages of the networks and to identify other individuals involved. Amritsar Rural Police reiterated its commitment to dismantling organised criminal networks and curbing illegal arms and drug trafficking in the border belt.

Source: Newspop

The Rural Police operation is separate from the Amritsar Commissionerate Police sweep announced on November 3, in which 11 people were arrested with 12 pistols, two grenades and 310 grams of heroin in the Ranjit Avenue, Sultanwind and Chheharta areas. Read the earlier Commissionerate bust

Why it matters

A 34 kg heroin seizure with Uzi guns and hand grenades is among the largest single hauls announced in Amritsar this season, and police say it also closed three unsolved firing cases. Amritsar sits on the Pakistan border, where Punjab Police and the BSF have repeatedly reported drone-dropped consignments of arms and drugs feeding gang networks inside Punjab.