Cross-border drug racket busted in Jammu; two arrested

In the early hours of Tuesday, authorities in the town of Jammu, in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, arrested two men who had been linked to an international drug trafficking operation that allegedly involved handlers in Pakistan. The men, identified as Rahul Kumar and Ajay Kumar, were taken into custody after police discovered a pistol and a kilogram of narcotics in their possession during a search of a premises in the outskirts of the town. Police said the operation had been the culmination of a months‑long investigation that involved intelligence sharing between the Indian Police Service, the Central Bureau of Investigation and the National Investigation Agency.The arrest came after investigators received intelligence that a drone‑based delivery system had been used to smuggle drugs from a border region into Jammu..

According to the police statement, the drone was equipped with a small payload bay that could hold up to two kilograms of illicit drugs. The device was reportedly launched from a remote location near the Line of Control, and the package was dropped near the site where the two men had been holding a meeting with local suppliers. The police say that the two men had been acting as middlemen, receiving the drugs in a concealed compartment of a truck and then distributing them within the region.Rahul and Ajay have been identified as key facilitators in the network that brings narcotics from Pakistan into Jammu and Kashmir, a senior officer from the Jammu Police Department said..

Their role in handling the drone‑delivered consignments places them at the centre of a cross‑border trafficking operation. The officers added that the investigation also uncovered a network of contacts in the border area who were involved in the smuggling and distribution chain.The arrest was made in conjunction with an earlier raid on a warehouse in the nearby village of Rajpura. During that operation, police seized a 12‑gun pistol, a 9mm handgun, and a bag containing 1 kilogram of a white powder that was later identified as cocaine..

Forensic analysis of the drugs revealed that they were not locally produced, indicating that they had been manufactured overseas. The police also recovered a digital recorder and a laptop that contained transaction records and contact lists linking the two men to a known smuggler in Lahore.The investigation into the drone‑dropped drugs is being handled by the Special Operations Division of the Central Bureau of Investigation, which has jurisdiction over cross‑border and organised crime cases. According to the CBI, the drone delivery system had been used at least three times in the past year to move illicit goods across the Line of Control..

The agency has said it is working with the Pakistan Police to gather evidence and to establish a legal framework for cooperation in cases of cross‑border drug smuggling.The Jammu Police Department said it had intercepted communications between the two men and their handlers in Pakistan. The messages indicated that the men were to meet a contact in a remote village to receive the next consignment. The intercepted messages also mentioned the use of a tiger drone, a type of unmanned aircraft that can operate at low altitudes to avoid radar detection..

The police have seized the drone and are conducting a technical analysis to trace its origin.In a statement released by the Ministry of Home Affairs, officials said that the arrest of the two men was part of a larger initiative to crack down on drug trafficking in Jammu and Kashmir. The ministry said the operation was coordinated with the National Investigation Agency and the Central Bureau of Investigation. The ministry also said that it had set up a joint task force to investigate cross‑border smuggling of narcotics in the region.The two men are currently being held in the Jammu Central Jail on charges of possession of narcotics and arms..

They are being investigated under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 and the Arms Act, 1959. Both men have been denied bail so far. Rahul Kumar, 28, is a local businessman who owned a small transport company in the town..

Ajay Kumar, 35, is a former military serviceman who had left the army after a short stint in the Indian Army. The men have denied the allegations but have not yet given a formal statement to the press.Police have warned that the drug trade has been increasing in the region due to the porous nature of the border between India and Pakistan. The Jammu Police Department has said it will intensify patrols in the border areas and will work closely with the border security forces..

The department also plans to conduct regular inspections of transport vehicles that pass through the town, as well as to increase intelligence gathering and surveillance. The police said they will also strengthen cooperation with local community members, who can play an important role in identifying suspicious activities.The incident has prompted the local community to call for tougher law enforcement and more transparency from the authorities. A local activist group said that the police had been slow in responding to drug‑related complaints and that the community needed a more proactive policing approach..

The group also expressed concern over the growing use of drones and other modern technology by smugglers.In a statement, a representative of the local trade association said that the crackdown had disrupted a significant drug network, but they were worried about potential economic fallout for traders who are often caught in the crossfire between law enforcement and smugglers. The representative said that the authorities should ensure that the crackdown does not unintentionally harm legitimate businesses. The trade association also demanded that the authorities provide clear guidelines for businesses operating near border areas.The case highlights a growing trend of cross‑border smuggling using drone technology..

Law enforcement agencies across the region are now adapting their methods to counter such threats. In addition to increased surveillance and intelligence sharing, they are also exploring technology solutions such as unmanned aerial surveillance and predictive policing algorithms. The authorities have also increased their focus on training police and security personnel in the latest counter‑smuggling techniques and technology..