Sriganganagar district in Rajasthan, which shares a border with Pakistan, has witnessed main drug seizures over the previous 5 years. Between 2022 and 2025, safety companies seized greater than 140 kg of heroin and 15 drones from the border area. The worldwide market worth of the seized heroin is estimated to be round ₹600 crore.
To deal with the rising drug menace, the district administration has shaped a Fast Investigation and Disposal Staff (QIDT), making Sriganganagar the primary district in Rajasthan to determine such a specialised unit. As well as, a Particular Investigation Staff (SIT) has additionally been constituted to curb the smuggling of banned Pregabalin capsules.
Drug consignments enter Rajasthan in small portions
Because of its proximity to the Pakistan border, Sriganganagar has change into a serious hub for drug trafficking. Massive consignments of heroin are allegedly dropped close to the border utilizing drones. From there, traffickers transfer the medicine into Punjab and later reintroduce them into Rajasthan in smaller portions.
Authorities say this fragmented provide chain permits traffickers to keep away from detection whereas spreading narcotics throughout the area. The follow has more and more drawn native youth into the cycle of drug habit.
Heroin smuggling circumstances handed to QIDT
In keeping with trainee IPS officer and Metropolis Circle Officer Vishal Jangid, the newly shaped QIDT will now deal with investigations in opposition to drug traffickers. A complete of 61 case information associated to heroin smuggling from border areas have been transferred to the QIDT. Moreover, investigations into 35 ransom circumstances registered since 2023 have additionally been assigned to the workforce. The unit is being led by Extra Superintendent of Police Bhanwarlal Meghwal.
The workforce’s main goal is to hint your entire community concerned in smuggling operations. Whereas the QIDT will conduct detailed investigations, arrests will proceed to be carried out by officers from the respective police stations.
BSF steadily receives reviews of such packets being discovered close to the India-Pakistan border. BSF seizes the heroin earlier than smugglers can attain it.
Seasonal sample in drone-based Smuggling
Investigations have revealed a seasonal sample in using drones to drop heroin throughout the border.
Authorities say drone drops are extra frequent throughout summer time months (April–August) between 12 midday and three pm, whereas in winter (November–February) they normally happen between 1 am and 4 am. A number of hotspots for such drops have been recognized throughout completely different police station jurisdictions. On two events, drones carrying weapons from Pakistan have been additionally intercepted and seized by the police.
The sample of smuggling by drones on the border isn’t new. However regardless of this, the smuggling isn’t stopping.
Rising concern over Pregabalin smuggling
Alongside heroin trafficking, the district is witnessing a rise within the smuggling of banned Pregabalin capsules, that are being extensively misused as intoxicants. Just lately, Anupgarh police seized 36,000 Pregabalin capsules and arrested two accused, Ravi Kumar and Manpreet Singh. Earlier, 1000’s of such capsules have been additionally recovered throughout separate operations.
Pregabalin 300 mg capsules are usually prescribed to deal with neurological ache. Nevertheless, as a consequence of its misuse as a narcotic substance, the drug has been banned beneath the NDPS Act within the district, making its sale and buy unlawful.
SIT shaped to hint provide community
In response to the growing move of Pregabalin, authorities have constituted a Particular Investigation Staff (SIT). The SIT will collect knowledge from pharmaceutical corporations to construct an in depth profile of the availability chain.
Police officers say the target isn’t merely to apprehend small-time smugglers however to trace down the key sellers and suppliers behind the unlawful commerce. Regardless of the ban, massive consignments of Pregabalin proceed to enter the district from border areas, both via Pakistan or neighbouring Punjab.
