By- Avinash IyerCHANDIGARH: Pakistan has long attempted to smuggle drugs and weapons into Punjab using drones, but in recent years, the Punjab Police has successfully dismantled the drone-based narcotics network. As a result, the number of drones crossing the border has steadily declined. To eliminate drone-based drug trafficking completely, the Punjab Police is now deploying anti-drone technology.In recent years, the use of drones for drug and arms trafficking has surged — with 2 drones caught in 2019, 7 in 2020, and just 1 in 2021. However, after the Bhagwant Mann government came into power in 2022, there was a dramatic spike in interceptions: 28 drones were seized in 2022, 121 in 2023, a record 294 in 2024, and 138 drones by July 15, 2025. In total, 591 drones have been confiscated by Punjab Police since 2022.During this period, under the “War Against Drugs” campaign, over 22,000 drug traffickers have been arrested — a testament to the government’s on-ground crackdown. This comprehensive framework to curb drones, drugs, weapons, and traffickers shows that the Mann government is not only vigilant on the security front but is also sending a strong message of zero tolerance towards drugs and smuggling.The scale of contraband dropped via drones is chilling — over 932 kg of heroin, 263 pistols, 14 AK-47 rifles, 66 hand grenades, and nearly 15 kg of RDX have been recovered. For the first time, the Mann government has laid down a security net from the borders to the villages, effectively neutralizing the efforts of traffickers and terrorists. The credit goes to Punjab’s unique and highly effective anti-drone system — a model that no other Indian state has yet implemented.In 596 border villages, a surveillance system comprising local residents, retired soldiers, and police personnel has been created to monitor the borders around the clock. Any suspicious activity is immediately reported and acted upon. Villages have been digitally mapped into three categories, with detailed data on road networks, lists of suspicious individuals, and their specific security needs.Police officers now use “beat books” to log every activity, and all protection teams are connected via WhatsApp. Security is no longer confined to police stations — it’s embedded in every village.Moreover, the Punjab government is investing ₹51 crore to procure nine advanced anti-drone systems for border deployment. Together, the BSF and Punjab Police are using technology, forensic investigation, and communication analysis to track every drone.Today, districts like Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Firozpur, and Fazilka — once notorious for drone smuggling — are now setting new benchmarks in security. Villages such as Khemkaran, Khalra, and Ajnala are no longer just in the headlines, but now play a central role in India’s national security strategy.
