BSF recovers 21 kg heroin along Pakistan border in Punjab

The Border Security Force (BSF), in a joint operation with Punjab Police, recovered 21 kg of heroin along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab's Ferozepur sector, a senior BSF officer said on Saturday.

The BSF also recovered one pistol and ammunition from the area.

BSF troopers and personnel of the Counter Intelligence wing of Punjab Police (in Khemkaran sector) laid an ambush near Border out Post (BoP) Gajjal, nearly 300 km from here, early on Saturday following specific information of smuggling of narcotics and weapons.

Smugglers from the Pakistan side were trying to smuggle the drugs consignment by pushing packets through a plastic pipe along the barbed wire fence near the international border.

The BSF troopers challenged them but the smugglers opened fire. The BSF personnel fired back but the smugglers escaped taking advantage of darkness and undulating ground.

"During search of the area, 21 packets (approx 21 kg) of contraband (heroin), one pistol, pistol magazine and ammunition was recovered from the spot," BSF deputy inspector general RS Kataria said.

The heroin is valued at Rs.105 crore in the international market.

With the latest seizure, the total seizure of heroin this year by the BSF along the Punjab border has crossed 316.4 kg. This is worth over Rs.1,580 crore in the international market.

The seizure of heroin in the entire last year (2014) was 361 kg in the Punjab sector, which was the highest in any year.