Spurt in drugs smuggling from Pak via Punjab border

There has been a spurt in Narcotics smuggling, especially heroin and opium, from Pakistan to India through the porous border in Punjab, say Border Security Force (BSF) data.

The 550-km porous border that Punjab shares with Pakistan continues to be the most sought after by drug smugglers to bring in heroin, poppy husk, fake Indian currency (FICN), weapons and ammunition to India from Pakistan.

According to the data, among the contraband items, heroin and opium smuggling is most preferred items by smugglers. In 2013, around 322 kg of heroin was seized on Punjab Border, while in 2014 (as on date) it seized 270.70 kg. Also, opium weighing around 443 grams was seized in 2013 while this year the total seizure was 783 grams. As far as fake FICN is concerned, the seizure last year had a face value of Rs 52.04 lakh while this year FICN with face value of Rs 11.93 lakh was seized by the BSF. Among the other items seized by BSF troops were poppy husk, weapons, ammunition and magazines.

Thanks to the strict vigil by BSF troops, several attempts by smugglers have been thwarted, leading to huge seizure of heroin, fake Indian currency, opium, poppy husk, and arms and ammunition.

Ashok Kumar, inspector general, Punjab Frontier-BSF, has issued operational guidelines to further strengthen border domination to effectively check the menace of narcotics smuggling and other anti-national activities. Further, tactical operations are being mounted to foil the attempts of smugglers during the festive season.

BSF officials said there was a huge demand for narcotics among youth, and this has led to a spurt in smuggling activities.

According to BSF officials, locals and farmers living along the Indo-Pak border in Punjab is an easy target for Pakistani smugglers who keep using them as conduit to deliver the contraband across the border. Farmers are also lured into this trade because of the high returns.

A senior BSF official said Pakistani couriers easily develop relations with Punjab farmers and lure them with huge commission for supplying the consignment. The BSF officials said sim cards provided by Pakistan were helping these farmers communicate with Pakistani smugglers without the fear of being tracked by Indian forces.

In the last few years, the farmers apprehended by the troops revealed that they had mobile sims given by Pakistan and were in constant touch with Pakistan smugglers.