The Amritsar Commissionerate Police has busted an alleged cross-border arms smuggling network and arrested two suspected traffickers, recovering seven sophisticated pistols and 40 live cartridges during the operation, officials said on Wednesday.
According to the police, a preliminary` investigation revealed that the arrested suspects were allegedly in contact with arms smugglers based abroad through social media applications. The network is suspected to have facilitated the smuggling of illegal weapons from across the border, which were subsequently supplied to criminals operating in Punjab and other parts of the country.
Police said a case has been registered at Sultanwind Police Station in Amritsar under the relevant provisions of law. Further investigation is underway to trace the backward and forward linkages of the network. Investigators are also working to identify other individuals associated with the alleged arms supply chain and ascertain the full extent of the cross-border operation.
Officials said efforts are underway to determine the source of the recovered weapons, the route used to transport them, and the identities of those who financed and coordinated the alleged smuggling operation.
Reiterating its commitment to tackling organised crime, the Punjab Police said it would continue to act firmly against illegal arms trafficking and cross-border criminal networks under its zero-tolerance policy. The force said sustained operations would continue to curb the supply of illegal weapons and maintain law and order across the state.