The influx of sophisticated weapons reaching gangsters in Punjab has posed a serious challenge to law and order and the security apparatus. With new consignments of illegal weapons being seized almost daily in the state, it is evident that the arms smuggling network is expanding rapidly. Meanwhile, the Punjab Police has also intensified its crackdown.
Under the ‘Gangstaran Te Vaar’ (Strike Against Gangsters) campaign, 713 illegal weapons, 218 magazines, and 2,009 cartridges have been recovered over the past 155 days, leading to the busting of several smuggling modules. According to investigative agencies, illegal weapons are reaching Punjab primarily from two major sources: the Pakistan international border, where consignments are dropped in border areas via drones; and inter-state networks operating from Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, which transport weapons to Punjab by road. A steady rise in drone-drop incidents has been recorded in the border districts of Amritsar, Ferozepur, Tarn Taran, and Fazilka.
Handlers based in Canada and Portugal
Security agencies state that handlers based abroad—particularly in Canada and Portugal—along with Pakistan-based networks, are playing a pivotal role in supplying weapons to local gangsters. These networks are not only facilitating arms supplies but are also fueling crimes such as gang wars, extortion, and targeted killings.
District-wise statistics further highlight the gravity of the situation.
Tarn Taran has emerged as the major hotspot, with 243 weapons recovered from the area. Illegal weapons, magazines, and cartridges were also seized from Amritsar City (201), Ferozepur (155), and Amritsar Rural (92). According to security agencies, border areas remain the easiest corridors for smugglers. **Several Major Modules Exposed**
Several major modules were uncovered in 2026. In a joint operation by the BSF and Punjab Police along the Amritsar international border, 26 sophisticated weapons—including an AK-47 rifle and 25 foreign-made pistols—were seized. The Amritsar Commissionerate Police busted a cross-border arms smuggling module and arrested eight accused, recovering 11 modern pistols and eight live cartridges from their possession.
In another significant case, seven individuals—including an Afghan national—were arrested, and 10 sophisticated weapons, 5 kg of heroin, and *hawala* (illegal money transfer) funds were recovered. In Jalandhar, the Counter Intelligence wing arrested three operatives linked to foreign handlers and seized three foreign-made pistols. Four foreign pistols were recovered from two smugglers in Jalalabad (Fazilka), while a Bihar-based arms supply module was busted in Patiala, leading to the arrest of four people.
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**Glock Pistols Reach Gangsters’ Hands**
Investigations have revealed that the weapons reaching Punjab are no longer limited to crude country-made guns (*desi kattas*); they now include high-grade weapons such as Austrian-made Glock 9mm pistols, Beretta pistols, Chinese .30 bore weapons, sub-machine guns (SMGs), and AK-47s. Such weaponry significantly boosts the firepower of gangsters. DGP Gaurav Yadav stated that gangsters lure youths into joining their networks, and the provision of illegal weapons is a crucial part of their strategy.
He added that the Punjab Police is operating under a zero-tolerance policy regarding cross-border smuggling, illegal arms supply, and organized crime. Experts believe that this is no longer merely a law-and-order issue but has evolved into a matter of national security. The nexus of drone technology, foreign funding, and gangster networks is rapidly altering the crime landscape in Punjab. Effectively curbing this network will be the biggest test for security agencies in the near future.
