Daijiworld Media Network - Jammu

Jammu, Oct 6: Jammu and Kashmir Police have arrested two persons and recovered heroin, opium and a pistol in connection with a suspected cross-border drone-dropping case in Jammu district.

The accused were arrested in the Arnia sector during an investigation into the suspected drone-dropping of arms and narcotics from across the International Border, police said.

“During the interrogation of the duo, the accused disclosed that they had received two consignments through drone-dropping. One Italian-made Beretta pistol, two magazines, four live rounds, approximately 500 grams of heroin and 500 grams of opium were recovered from their possession,” police said.

An FIR has been registered under relevant sections of law and further investigation is underway, police added.

Cross-border drone drops and aerial incursions from Pakistan have emerged as a major security challenge in Jammu and Kashmir, with terrorist organisations and smuggling syndicates allegedly using drones to transport weapons, explosives and narcotics.

In July this year, the Army and J&K Police launched joint search operations in Nandpur in Samba and Tarkundi-Saaj in Nowshera, Rajouri, following nighttime sightings of suspected Pakistani drones near the International Border and Line of Control.

On March 1, the Army opened fire and deployed counter-drone measures after multiple quadcopters and a Pakistani drone crossed the LoC in the Digwar and Poonch sectors before retreating.

On January 10, a joint team of the Border Security Force (BSF) and J&K Police Special Operations Group recovered a yellow-tape-wrapped package containing weapons from a stream bank in Paloora village, Samba, following a suspected cross-border drone drop.

Multiple drone incursions and sightings were reported across Poonch, Rajouri and Samba in January, prompting heightened security and deployment of anti-drone measures.

The Ministry of Defence reported 791 drone incursions along India’s western border in 2025, with security forces using jammers and spoofers to counter hundreds of aerial threats.

Security agencies have also flagged the use of drones to drop heroin, opium and synthetic drugs as part of narco-financing operations. Arms and ammunition, including pistols, grenades, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), magnetic bombs and AK-47 ammunition, have also been transported through such drone drops.

Areas frequently targeted in such incidents include Arnia, Samba, Kathua, Akhnoor, Rajouri and Poonch.