Chandigarh, March 23 (IANS): Border Security Force (BSF) troopers on Monday recovered 18 kg of heroin, valued at Rs.90 crore in the international market, from near the India-Pakistan border in Punjab.

The recovery was made in the Gurdaspur sector of the international border following exchange of fire between BSF troopers and smugglers, a BSF spokesman said.

The recovery was made just a day after union Home Minister Rajnath Singh visited the Attari joint checkpost in adjoining Amritsar sector of the border.

The heroin, in 18 packets, was found near the border outpost of Dera Baba Nanak Road in Gurdaspur sector, 270 km from here, the spokesman said.

The BSF also recovered one China-made pistol, one magazine and 10 rounds of ammunition from the spot.

The recovery was made following a joint operation by the BSF and Punjab Police in the Dera Baba Nanak sector.

The BSF spokesman said smugglers were using a plastic pipe to smuggle the heroin into India. The smugglers were challenged but they opened fire on the BSF troopers.

"The smugglers managed to escape, taking cover of darkness. However, a blood trail was seen leading towards Pakistan territory which indicated injury to Pakistani smugglers," the BSF spokesman said.

With the latest seizure, the BSF has recovered nearly 80 kg of heroin this year. During the entire last year (2014), 361 kg of heroin was seized along the Punjab sector of the border.