Increase in narcotics smuggling through Punjab

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The consumption of narcotics by youth in Punjab has led to increase in its smuggling through the 550-km porous international border that Punjab shares with Pakistan. It is also the most sought-after by smugglers to smuggle heroin, poppy husk, fake Indian currency, arms and ammunition from Pakistan. According to sources, the cultivation of poppy crop is going unchecked in the absence of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) forces in Afghanistan. So, drugs produced and processed in Afghanistan find their way across Pakistan to India, in connivance with the local farmers.

According to Border Security Force (BSF) data, there has been an increase in narcotics smuggling, especially heroin. In 2012, 289 kgs of heroin were seized, while in 2013, 322 kgs were seized. As far as fake Indian currency is concerned, the seizure last year was around Rs 52.04 lakh, while in 2012 it stood at Rs 46.21 lakh.

The BSF at the fenced Indo-Pak border constantly monitors the region and employs various technologies for surveillance and nabbing of smugglers. Yet, these mafia find various methods to sneak through large quantities of narcotics into India.

DETAILS  OF SEIZURE/ INTERDICTION/ APPREHENSION BY BSF ON PUNJAB BORDER FROM 2011 TO 2013
Details	2011	2012	2013
Heroin seized (Kgs)	67.970 Kgs	288.125 Kgs	322.011Kgs
FICN seized (Rs.)	Rs. 41,71,500	RS. 46,21,000	Rs. 52,04,500
Opium Seized	03.790 Kgs	540 gms	443 gms
Poppy Husk	3.100 Kgs	5.5 Kgs	246.623 Kgs
Arms seized	9	23	23
Mag All types	17	32	28
Amn Seized	149 Rds	264 Rds	312 Rds
Grenade Chinese	-	-	2

According to BSF officials, the locals and farmers living along the Indo-Pak border in Punjab are easy targets for the Pakistani smugglers who use them to smuggle these across the border. The farmers are also lured into this trade due to windfall gains and to make quick money.

Punjab has 554-km of international border, along which two major rivers — Ravi and Satluj, which cross over to Pakistan. Due to meandering course of these rivers, fencing was not possible along 17 kms, which provides easy access to Pakistani smugglers into India.

Although all agricultural equipment of farmers are  thoroughly checked by the BSF, some of them manage to sneak into the Indian territory.

A senior BSF official said Pakistani couriers easily develop relations with farmers and lure them with huge commission for supplying the consignment. The BSF officials maintained that Pakistani mobile phone sim cards also help farmers in safely communicating with the Pakistani smugglers.

On being asked about the modus operandi, BSF Deputy Inspector General, Amritsar sector, M F Farooqui said, “In the last few years, the farmers who were caught smuggling narcotics revealed that they had Pakistani mobile sim cards and were in constant touch with Pakistani smugglers. Some farmers have agricultural land on the other side of the fence as well. Since there is electric fence, the package is pushed into a 10 to 12 ft plastic pipe, which is hung in the fence, so that it can be retrieved by the Indian smugglers. This modus operandi is employed in at least 90-95 per cent cases. At times, drugs are found abandoned in fields across the fence or thrown over by Pakistani smugglers and later on collected by Indian smugglers."

On January 3, Border Security Force personnel have successfully seized 01 Pistol, 02 Magazines, 15 live Rounds and 04 packets of contraband suspected to be Heroin on Punjab border in the area of Border Out Post Gulgarh, Amritsar Sector with interdiction of two Pakistani Smugglers.

Keeping in view the vulnerability of Border from smuggling point of view, Ajay Kumar Tomar, IPS, Inspector General BSF Punjab Frontier has issued operational guidelines to further strengthen border domination.

Especially in view of foggy weather so as to effectively check the menace of narcotics smuggling on Punjab border with Pakistan.