Jammu, October 26, 2026: Jammu and Kashmir Police have uncovered a suspected cross-border narcotics network allegedly using drones from Pakistan to drop drug consignments near the International Border, following an investigation that began when a young villager was found in a disoriented condition in Jammu’s R S Pura area.
The probe eventually led police to recover 804 grams of heroin and 1.114 kilograms of opium from Talhar village in the Arnia sector, close to the India-Pakistan border. Police suspect that the narcotics were delivered through a drone operating from across the border.
Investigation Began With Disoriented Villager
The case began on October 20 when police personnel from R S Pura Police Station found 26-year-old Sunny Kumar lying in a semi-conscious and disoriented condition near a ditch in Kotli Mirdian village in Suchetgarh tehsil.
Police initially treated it as a routine case involving a person who appeared to be intoxicated and took him for a medical examination.
Police Questioning Leads to Wider Probe
After Sunny regained composure, police questioned him about what he had consumed and how he had obtained it.
His statements reportedly led investigators to suspect that narcotics were being supplied through a wider cross-border network operating in villages near the International Border.
804 Grams of Heroin Recovered
During the investigation, police recovered 804 grams of heroin from Talhar village in the Arnia sector.
The quantity falls under the commercial category and prompted investigators to widen the probe into possible organised drug trafficking.
More Than One Kilogram of Opium Seized
Police also recovered 1.114 kilograms of opium from the area.
Authorities believe both narcotics may have formed part of a consignment delivered from Pakistan using drones.
Drone Drop From Pakistan Suspected
Investigators suspect the drugs were dropped in the border area by a Pakistani drone and later collected by local handlers.
Drone-based smuggling has increasingly become a concern along parts of the India-Pakistan border, where small unmanned aircraft are used to transport narcotics, weapons and other contraband.
Recovery Made Under Operation Sanjeevani
Police said the seizure was made as part of Operation Sanjeevani, an ongoing anti-narcotics campaign targeting drug peddlers and trafficking networks in Jammu.
The operation focuses on disrupting both street-level distribution and larger supply networks.
Arnia Sector Under Scanner
Talhar village lies in the Arnia sector of Jammu district, close to the International Border.
The location makes it vulnerable to cross-border drone activity, particularly during night hours when small UAVs can be difficult to detect.
Earlier Drone Module Also Busted in Arnia
The latest case follows another major crackdown in the same region earlier in October.
On October 6, J&K Police said they had busted a suspected Pakistan-backed drone-dropping module in Arnia and arrested four people in connection with narcotics, a pistol and ammunition.
Police Probe Possible Link Between Cases
Investigators are examining whether the latest narcotics recovery is connected to previously identified drone-smuggling groups operating in the Arnia belt.
Police have not yet publicly confirmed a direct link between the two cases.
Pakistan-Based Handlers Under Investigation
Authorities are trying to identify suspected handlers operating from across the border who may have coordinated the drone deliveries.
Investigators are also examining communication records and local contacts to determine how instructions for collecting dropped consignments were allegedly passed to people on the Indian side.
Local Distribution Network Also Under Scanner
Police are probing how narcotics entering through the border region were transported further inland.
The investigation is expected to focus on couriers, storage locations, local peddlers and financial transactions connected to the alleged network.
Narco-Terror Angle Being Examined
Some police reports have described the suspected module as a narco-terror network, reflecting concerns that profits from cross-border narcotics trafficking may be used to support other illegal activities.
However, the precise financial links and wider organisational structure remain under investigation.
Border Drones Increasing Security Challenge
Drones have emerged as an increasingly important security challenge along the India-Pakistan border.
Their small size and ability to fly at low altitude make them useful for smugglers attempting to move small but valuable consignments such as heroin, weapons and ammunition.
Similar Recoveries Reported Across Border States
Drone-linked narcotics recoveries have also been reported in Punjab and Rajasthan.
Security agencies have increased anti-drone surveillance and intelligence coordination as smugglers experiment with new methods to bypass traditional border checks.
Police Working to Identify More Suspects
Investigators are now trying to identify other people who may have helped collect, store or distribute the narcotics.
Further arrests are possible if the investigation establishes additional links.
Digital Evidence Likely to Be Important
Police are expected to examine mobile phones, call records, messaging applications and other digital evidence to trace communication between suspected local operatives and handlers outside India.
Such evidence may help establish how the drone drops were coordinated.
Cross-Border Drug Trafficking Remains Major Concern
The latest recovery highlights the continuing challenge posed by narcotics trafficking along the Jammu border.
Heroin smuggled from Pakistan can command high prices in Indian markets, making even relatively small drone consignments financially significant.
Investigation Continues
Police have not yet disclosed the full number of suspects linked to the latest case or whether additional consignments have been identified.
The recovery of heroin and opium has nevertheless strengthened suspicions that organised drone-based smuggling routes remain active in the Arnia-R S Pura belt.
Police Focus on Breaking Entire Network
Authorities say the objective is not merely to seize individual consignments but to identify the complete supply chain — from suspected handlers across the border to local collectors, transporters and distributors.
Further developments are expected as the investigation progresses.
Source: The Indian Express, PTI, Jammu and Kashmir Police, NDTV
Supreme News Network
