Chandigarh, Sept 14: Punjab Police has intensified its technological operations along the international border to curb drone-based narcotics smuggling, resulting in a marked drop in street-level heroin availability across the state. A Punjab Police spokesperson affirmed that the deployment of new Drone Sense D200 Pro units alongside operational Baaj Akh systems has significantly improved real-time tracking, interception, and search capabilities in border regions. Supported by 52 specialized Drone Response Teams operating in tandem with the Border Security Force, state personnel have arrested nearly 80,000 individuals and seized 486 rogue drones since March 2025.
However, the enforcement success along the border has coincided with a shifting pattern in drug consumption, with pharmaceutical narcotics emerging as the primary enforcement concern. Officials noted that an estimated 80 percent of pharmaceutical drugs entering the state originate from manufacturing and distribution networks located in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, and Himachal Pradesh. To address this evolving threat, Punjab authorities stated that formal coordination will be initiated with these source states to mandate stricter oversight of pharmaceutical manufacturing, monitor supply chains, and prevent the illegal diversion of regulated medicines into Punjab.
