215kg seized, highest haul in first 4 months in 5 yrs

AMRITSAR: The Border Security Force (BSF) seized around 215-kg heroin till April 30 this year along the 553-km-long border with Pakistan this year, which is the highest in the corresponding periods of last five years. The recovery was around 130 kg and 75 kg for the corresponding periods of 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Officials of the BSF say prolonged foggy season was the main reason behind the increase in attempts to push drugs into

India. “This year, the fog engulfed the border areas till

March end anti-national elements across the border took advantage of it. Also, the water level of the rivers and their tributaries along the border remained high this year, paving the way for the smugglers to push in contrabands into the Indian territory,” said a senior BSF official, who didn’t wish to be named.

On April 8, a Pakistani national, who was trying to push in a heroin consignment into the Indian territory near Khemkaran border in Tarn Taran district, was apprehended. With the arrest of Ajmad Ali (19) of Lahore, the BSF had also seized 21-kg heroin and two smart phones from the area. Same day, a Pakistani smuggler was neutralised by the BSF near border outpost (BOP) Kakkar in Amritsar district. From the spot, 22-kg heroin and two AK-47 rifles were also recovered.

A senior Punjab Police official said, “Besides breaking the drug supply chain, we have been attaching the assets of the drug smugglers. Smuggling has been curtailed, so desperate Pakistani smugglers are trying to push in more contraband into India.”

The seizure of the BSF is different from the recoveries made by the Punjab Police.