Law enforcement agents on the condition of anonymity explained how the drug trading along the 550-km-long Indo-Pak border operates. This region known for arms and gold smuggling in the late 80s, has seen the focus shifting to heroin and other psychotropic drugs. The problem is more pronounced in Punjab's border districts - Pathankot,Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Amritsar and Gurdaspur.

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The international border is an interesting tale in itself. The Indian side is fenced a few kilometres within the international border with fields beyond the fence belonging to Indian farmers. The BSF allows farmers to enter these restricted areas beyond the fence in the morning, letting them back in the evening. Such people who cross the fence are exposed and susceptible to drug dealers on the Pakistani side wich is not fenced.

In fact on that side drug dealers, often connive with Pakistani intelligence to use Indian farmers as carriers with counterfeit currency as bait.

A law enforcement officer formerly engaged with the Punjab border police, who preferred not to be named, said the problem is compounded in winters with reduced visibility. The drug mafia along the border ties up with Indian smugglers to establish a link to get past the watchful BSF jawans. Smugglers are known to built tunnels to facilitate movement of drugs from one side to the other, he said and admitted it is difficult to man every junction along the 550-kilometre-long border.

Also Read: The grip of drugs

During monsoon season, the drug smuggling goes riverine as the as the Ravi, Sutlej and Beas rivers are in spate. Vessels used to cross the choppy currents provide conduits as drug packets are tied below them to get past the authorities unnoticed. The Samjhauta Express is also used to ferry drugs across the border. Officers privy to drug control operations said that it is a cat and mouse chase between smugglers and law enforcement agencies.

Main operators of the narcotics ring are located in the UAE and Dubai. The people, who operate locally, are only carriers/facilitators from Punjab's border districts. India's Border Security Force (BSF) takes several steps to check such illegal cross-border activities. The entire stretch of India's border is fenced with barbed wire, floodlit and equipped with thermal imaging devices to help nab smugglers at night. There is round the clock BSF vigil present at every kilometre along the border.

Heroin comes from opium growers in Afghanistan. It enters Pakistan in a refined form. From there, through the Punjab border, it is sent to Delhi, Mumbai and southern India. India serves as the main transit point from where heroin is smuggled to Australia, Thailand, China, Europe, Sri-Lanka and Africa.

India As The Main Transit Point

  • Heroin comes from Afghanistan. It enters Pakistan in a refined form 
  • From Pakistan, through the Punjab border, heroin is sent to Delhi, Mumbai and southern India
  • India serves as the transit point. From here heroin is smuggled to Australia, Thailand, China, Europe, Sri-Lanka & Africa 
  • There is an illegal trade facilitation centre at the Indo-Pakistan border