Opium, heroin hidden in 12-volt battery found near India-Pakistan border

The Border Security Force (BSF) on Tuesday have foiled another smuggling attempt along the India-Pakistan border by seizing around six kilos of heroin in a search operation in Gurdaspur, Punjab. 

BSF officials recovered the narcotics along the international border of India and Pakistan in Punjab’s Gurdaspur. A search operation was conducted during which the BSF officials recovered 6 packets of narcotics, suspected to be heroin and opium. 

In the evening hours of Tuesday, August 29, BSF personnel received specific information regarding the presence of concealed assignment of narcotics near the Gurdaspur border. Upon receiving the information, the BSF conducted a search operation near Dostpur village along the international border. 

During the search, the officials recovered six packets of narcotics concealed inside a 12-volt battery. The consignment includes approximately 6.3 kilograms of Heroin in five of the packets while approximately 70 grams of Opium was packed in one, suspect the BSF officials. The consignment was located ahead of the border fencing in Gurdaspur. 

Increasing smuggling bids along international border 

This is not the first incident where BSF has foiled a smuggling plan, rather on August 16, the BSF had recovered a small bottle filled 200 gm of suspected contraband item wrapped with black colour adhesive tape attached with a ring for hanging it with a drone from Tarn Taran. 

On August 13, the BSF had seized drugs and drone along the international border during a joint operation with Punjab Police. BSF had recovered a packet of narcotics weighing 530 grams which was dropped by a drone near Dhanoe Kalan village located at international border in Amritsar. In another incident, the BSF had recovered a damaged drone from inside a well in Tarn Taran.  Further, on August 10, the forces had recovered a packet of  narcotics suspected to be heroin (Gross wt - 360 Gms), packed in yellow adhesive tape from Tarn Taran. 

In June, the security forces had recovered 14 small packets of narcotic items suspected to be heroin of approximately 500 grams near Gandhu Kilcha village in Punjab's Ferozepur district

While smaller amount of narcotics have been seized in multiple operations along the border, the BSF in April this year recovered 2 kilos of heroin packed in a cloth. A hook was also attached to the packet along with a nylon rope, for the purpose of hanging, the BSF had informed. 

"On April 16, during evening hours, BSF received information of a suspected paclets in a farming field clse to the deployment area and after a quick reaction could recover two packets of narcotocs suspected to be heroin in the area near Bahupur AFgana village of Gurdaspur district," BSF said in a statement. 

In Juy 2023, the Punjab Police had arrested three smugglers and had seized around 18 kilograms of heroin. The accused, who were transporting the heroin via Srinagar to Amritsar were nabbed in Gurdaspur.