Amritsar (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Police on Monday announced a major success in its crackdown on cross-border crime after unearthing an international weapons smuggling module with suspected links to both Canada and Pakistan. The operation led to the arrest of one accused and the recovery of a substantial cache of arms and ammunition.
According to officials, the Amritsar Rural Police apprehended Amarbir Singh alias Amar, a resident of Dairiwal village in the Tarsikka area of Amritsar. Police recovered nine pistols, eleven magazines, and 121 live cartridges from his possession during the raid.
Investigations have revealed that Amarbir had recently returned from Canada and maintained contact with individuals based in Pakistan who are believed to be part of a transnational arms trafficking syndicate. Authorities suspect the seized weapons were meant to be supplied to organized criminal groups operating in Punjab and other parts of northern India.
A senior police officer said, “Preliminary evidence points to a well-coordinated network facilitating the smuggling of arms into India through the border. The accused acted as a conduit for handlers based abroad.”
Police sources added that the smuggling route may have involved the use of drones or other covert methods to transport arms across the border, a tactic that has increasingly been adopted by cross-border syndicates in recent years.
An FIR has been registered, and teams have been tasked with tracing both upstream and downstream links of the network — including possible financiers, suppliers, and local receivers. Forensic and digital analysis of recovered materials is underway to identify the extent of international involvement.
Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav lauded the Amritsar Rural Police for their prompt action, saying the force remains “fully committed to eradicating organized crime and ensuring peace in Punjab.”
He added that Punjab Police will continue to strengthen its intelligence-sharing mechanisms and coordination with central agencies to tackle arms smuggling and other transnational threats.
This case marks another significant strike against illegal arms networks operating along Punjab’s international border. Investigations are ongoing, and officials expect more arrests in the coming days as links between operatives in India, Pakistan, and Canada are further uncovered.
