Punjab Police has busted a cross-border illegal arms smuggling module in Amritsar and arrested three accused, recovering 10 foreign-made sophisticated .30 bore pistols along with magazines, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said on Tuesday.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the accused were in contact with a foreign-based handler who facilitated illegal arms consignments, with the weapons allegedly being supplied to criminal elements through an organised distribution network.
Announcing the development in a post on X, DGP Yadav said the operation was conducted by Counter Intelligence, Amritsar.
He described the action as a "major breakthrough" in the state's efforts to dismantle cross-border arms smuggling networks.
According to the DGP, preliminary investigations have revealed that the accused were allegedly working in coordination with a handler based abroad, who facilitated the movement of illegal weapon consignments into the country.
The weapons were subsequently distributed among criminal elements through an organised network.
An FIR has been registered at the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) police station in Amritsar.
In a major breakthrough, Counter Intelligence, Amritsar busts a cross-border illegal arms smuggling module, apprehends 3 accused and recovers 10 foreign-made sophisticated .30 bore pistols along with magazines. Preliminary investigation reveals that the accused were allegedly in contact with a foreign-based handler who facilitated illegal arms consignments. The weapons were further supplied to criminal elements through an organised distribution network. An FIR has been registered at PS State Special Operation Cell (#SSOC), #Amritsar. Further investigation is underway to uncover the entire smuggling network and establish backward and forward linkages. @PunjabPoliceInd remains committed to dismantling cross-border arms smuggling networks and ensuring a safer and more secure Punjab.— DGP Punjab Police (@DGPPunjabPolice) October 27, 2026
Further investigation is underway to identify the people involved in the smuggling operation and establish the network's backward and forward linkages, including the source of the weapons and their intended recipients.
Punjab Police said the operation forms part of their ongoing efforts to prevent illegal arms trafficking and dismantle networks suspected of facilitating criminal activities through cross-border channels.
The latest recovery comes amid a series of police operations targeting alleged arms and explosives smuggling networks in the border state.
This comes days after Amritsar Rural Police arrested a 28-year-old truck driver and recovered an AK-47 assault rifle, nine live cartridges and two live hand grenades, officials said.
The accused, identified as Navjot Singh, a resident of Cheema village in Tarn Taran, was allegedly procuring illegal weapons at the direction of foreign-based smugglers, according to DGP Gaurav Yadav.
Police also impounded the motorcycle he was using to transport the consignment.
Inspector General of Police, Border Range, Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, said special teams of Amritsar Rural Police acted on specific intelligence inputs and intercepted Singh while he was riding the motorcycle.
A subsequent search led to the recovery of the weapons and explosives.
The accused was booked under Section 25(8) of the Arms Act and Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Explosive Substances Act.
Investigators are examining the alleged links between the accused and foreign-based smugglers to establish the wider network.
With the latest arrests and recoveries, Punjab Police are continuing their investigation into suspected cross-border arms trafficking, focusing on identifying handlers, suppliers and recipients involved in the illegal weapons trade.
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