The Amritsar Commissionerate Police have successfully dismantled a cross-border illegal arms smuggling network by apprehending eight individuals. Among the seized items were 11 sophisticated pistols, including models from China and Austria, along with eight cartridges. The arrested suspects, including Gulabjit Singh, Harpreet Singh, and others, were found to have connections with overseas operatives facilitating the illicit arms trade.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the recovered weapons were destined for distribution among criminal elements for activities like extortion and violent crimes. The police have also seized the motorcycle used by the accused in connection with the smuggling activities. Further inquiries are ongoing to uncover additional accomplices linked to the network and to make more arrests and recoveries.
Commissioner of Police (Amritsar) Gurpreet Singh Bhullar disclosed that the arrests were made following specific intelligence inputs and a well-planned operation. The initial arrests of Gulabjit and Harpreet led to the recovery of two pistols, with subsequent arrests yielding more firearms. The investigation unveiled that the suspects were in contact with a foreign-based criminal group, coordinating the delivery of illegal weapon shipments through drones in the Attari sector.
The interrogation revealed that some of the arrested individuals had prior involvements in serious criminal offenses, including murder, attempted murder, and violations of various acts. The police are intensifying efforts to trace and apprehend other associates connected to the smuggling ring.
