Spike in heroin seizure by BSF along border

Anirudh Gupta

Ferozepur, December 29

The seizure of heroin witnessed a tremendous spurt this year, as almost 497 kg of heroin was recovered during various operations carried out by the BSF along the 550-km-long Punjab Frontier.

This quantity does not include the contraband seized by other law enforcement agencies operating along the border, including the CIA, Narcotics Control Bureau, Punjab Police, Counter Intelligence, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, SSOC and newly formed STG.

The seizure by the BSF alone is more than double as compared to last year when 227.55 kg heroin was seized.

About 221 kg heroin was seized in 2018, 278.14 kg in 2017 and 230.53 kg in 2016. The last highest recovery during this decade was recorded in 2014 when 361.416 kg heroin was seized along the border.

The record seizure indicates that despite the Covid lockdown, cross-border smuggling of drugs has been continuing unabated. Even the quantity of arms and ammunition seized by the BSF has seen a multifold rise this year.

This year, 39 weapons of various calibre and make, including AK series assault rifles, Beretta pistols and Chinese-made small firearms, have has been seized by the BSF.

Earlier, the cross-border smugglers were using “conceal and clear” strategy to push contraband. They have now started using water channels to execute their sinister designs. “On several occasions, cross-border smugglers had tried to push heroin filled in water bottles through the Sutlej. It used to be concealed in water hyacinth to escape BSF’s attention,” an official said.

“Our forces have thwarted several attempts by anti-national elements to push consignments of contraband inside the Indian border. We are determined to ensure the sanctity of the borders at all times,” said a BSF official, admitting Pakistan smugglers had been desperate to push drugs into the Indian territory taking advantage of the standing crop during the lockdown.

Man arrested with 1kg contraband

Abohar: The Border Security Force on Tuesday claimed to have seized two packets of contraband (weighing 1.06 kg), suspected to be heroin, and apprehended Sukhdev Singh in the area under 124 Battalion of the BSF in Abohar sector. The contraband is valued at Rs5 crore in the international market. The police also seized 75 gm heroin from five individuals in three separate incidents in Abohar. OC

2020 — 497 kg

2019 — 227.55 kg

2018— 221 kg