Jaipur: In a major pre-Independence Day security breakthrough, police in Bikaner busted an alleged cross-border narco-arms syndicate after intercepting a drone-dropped consignment containing 10kg of Afghan heroin worth an estimated Rs 50 crore, 11 foreign-made pistols, 22 magazines and 100 live cartridges near the India-Pakistan border in Bikaner district and arrested one suspect Sunday.Bikaner SP Mridul Kachawa said the operation, with the codename Operation Shockwave, was carried out in the Khajuwala sector after intelligence agencies picked up inputs about a cross-border drop. “Police laid surveillance in the border belt and intercepted the consignment, arresting Virendra Singh, a resident of Pali’s Jaitaran, who had allegedly arrived to collect the package. His motorcycle was also seized,” Kachawa said.Calling it one of the biggest anti-smuggling operations along the Rajasthan border, police said the seizure was the result of a combination of human intelligence and technical surveillance. “We had developed specific intelligence about a cross-border narco-arms network. Acting on those inputs, our teams tracked the movement, recovered the drone-dropped consignment and arrested the receiver. The consignment was meant to be transported to Punjab,” Kachawa said.Police said the cache included 10kg of ‘999’ grade Afghan heroin, two Turkish-made pistols, four Glock pistols, five Star .30 bore pistols, 22 additional magazines and 100 live cartridges. Investigators believe the narcotics and weapons were smuggled from Pakistan using a drone and were to be handed over to operatives in Punjab.Officials said the operation assumes added significance as it came just days before Independence Day, when security agencies remain on heightened alert along the international border. They said the seizure prevented a large quantity of narcotics and sophisticated firearms from entering the hinterland.Kachawa said police have registered a case against the accused under relevant provisions of the BNS. Investigators said he has four previous criminal cases registered against him in Rajasthan and other states. Efforts are underway to identify the Pakistani handlers, drone operators and the Punjab-based recipients linked to the network.Sources said that Rajasthan police for the past several days had been keeping an eye on suspected movement of narcotics and arms haul.
