16 drones seized in a wk on Pak border in Punjab

THE Border Security Force (BSF) has seized 16 drones in Punjab along the Indo-Pak border within a single week, from November 9 to 15, officials said.

- HARPREET BAJWA

This marks the highest number of drones intercepted in a week, surpassing the previous record of 10.

The BSF also seized 16 kilograms of drugs and arrested two people suspected of smuggling.

According to sources, the drones were intercepted in the Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur sectors.

So far this year, the BSF has shot down or recovered 216 drones, more than double the 107 seized last year.

"These drones, predominantly of Chinese origin, are often used to smuggle narcotics, weapons, and counterfeit currency across the border," a BSF officer said.

In the past 24 hours, the BSF seized 5.9 kilograms of heroin, two China-made drones, and arrested one suspect near the border in the Amritsar sector.

In one incident, seven packets containing 3.8 kilograms of heroin were recovered from agricultural fields.

Another drone, along with 545 grams of heroin, was seized at a different site.