Anti‑Drone Systems and Reward Scheme Cut Drug Trafficking Across Border

Punjab’s law‑enforcement agencies, together with the Border Security Force, have launched a comprehensive anti‑drone architecture to intercept narcotic consignments that use unmanned aircraft to cross the international frontier with Pakistan. The initiative has already led to a tangible dip in heroin supply within the region.

Nine anti‑drone units are now operational, featuring three "Baz Aankh" stations in Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Firozpur that became active in August 2025. These installations are designed to spot and electronically neutralise suspect drones at the earliest possible moment.

Additionally, three portable Drone Sense D200 Pro platforms were positioned on September 3 at strategically chosen border locations. Their prolonged surveillance capability pinpoints exact drop sites, allowing rapid deployment of ground teams.

Punjab has organized 52 Drone Response Teams (DRT) comprising 147 police officers who coordinate closely with the BSF. When an alert is generated, these teams converge on the suspected location, carry out searches, and arrest those attempting to retrieve the payload.

The framework is reinforced by 64 second‑line defence posts, a grid of 2,367 CCTV cameras across 585 points, and 600 extra police personnel. Village Defence Committees in border villages act as supplementary eyes and ears, feeding actionable intelligence to the response units.

Since the "War Against Drugs" campaign kicked off on March 1, 2025, roughly 80,000 arrests have been made and 486 drones seized. Financial investigations have resulted in the freezing of assets worth over INR 336 crore.

A cash reward of INR 25,000 is granted for every recovered drone, with the scheme having paid out about INR 2 crore to date. Authorities now highlight a shifting menace: the smuggling of pharmaceutical drugs from other Indian states, which has become the most pressing issue in the ongoing drug‑fighting effort.