CHANDIGARH, NOV 30 – In a significant breakthrough, the Punjab Police arrested two individuals after recovering eight sophisticated pistols that had been smuggled into India from Pakistan, a senior officer confirmed on Saturday.
The arrests took place in Nurpur Padhri, near Gharinda, in Amritsar. Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav announced the development, stating that the Counter Intelligence Unit in Amritsar had apprehended the suspects while they were waiting to receive a consignment of weapons that had been smuggled from Pakistan.
“In a major blow to illegal arms smuggling networks, Counter Intelligence Amritsar apprehended two persons from Nurpur Padhri while they were waiting for another operative to hand over the weapon consignment smuggled from Pakistan,” Yadav said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Police recovered eight sophisticated weapons, including four Glock pistols (manufactured in Austria), two Turkiye-made 9mm pistols, and two X-Shot Zigana pistols, along with 10 rounds of ammunition. The authorities have registered a case under the Arms Act in Amritsar, and investigations are underway to trace both the source and destination of the illegal arms network.
The police are working to establish the backward and forward linkages of the smuggling operation, including identifying other members of the network involved in the illicit trade of firearms. The recovery of these high-grade weapons highlights the ongoing challenges posed by cross-border smuggling activities and the threat of illegal arms trafficking in the region.
The arrest underscores the efforts of Punjab Police in combating illegal arms trade and disrupting the operations of organized crime syndicates operating in the region.