Punjab's street heroin supply has fallen sharply, according to a Punjab Police spokesperson. The drop comes after an intensive crackdown on drugs smuggled across the international border with Pakistan. At the same time, a new problem has taken its place: pharmaceutical drugs smuggled in from other states are now the biggest challenge for drug law enforcement in Punjab.
Why Heroin Supply in Punjab Has Fallen
The spokesperson said the multi-layered response by the Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police against drone-based narcotics smuggling had begun showing results. The push against smuggling routes along the Pakistan border is the main reason behind the fall in street heroin availability.
Drone-based smuggling has been a major route for narcotics entering Punjab from across the border. The combined effort of the BSF and Punjab Police has targeted this route directly, and the police say this is now reflected in the reduced supply of heroin on the streets.
Anti-Drone Systems Deployed by Punjab Police
Punjab Police is deploying nine anti-drone systems to strengthen its response. This includes three "Baaj Akh" units that have been operational in Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Ferozepur since August 2025.
The force is also using three units of the Drone Sense D200 Pro, described as a long-endurance mobile drone-detection platform. These systems are meant to detect and counter drones used to push narcotics across the border.
- Nine anti-drone systems are being deployed by Punjab Police
- Three "Baaj Akh" units are operational in Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Ferozepur since August 2025
- Three units of the Drone Sense D200 Pro are also in use
- The multi-layered response involves both the BSF and Punjab Police
Pharma Drugs From Other States: The New Challenge
Even as heroin supply drops, the spokesperson made clear that the drug problem in Punjab has not ended. Pharmaceutical drugs smuggled in from other states have emerged as the biggest new challenge for drug law enforcement.
This shift matters because it changes where the problem comes from. The border route that once brought in heroin is being squeezed, but the supply of pharma drugs is arriving through a different channel — from other states rather than across the international border.
Our Take: A Win, But Not the End of Punjab's Drug Problem
The fall in street heroin supply is a real result, and the police deserve credit for it. The deployment of anti-drone systems and the joint work with the BSF show that the border route can be disrupted when resources are focused on it.
But to put it plainly, this is not a victory that lets anyone relax. When one supply route is blocked, another opens. The rise of pharmaceutical drugs smuggled from other states proves that the drug trade adapts faster than enforcement sometimes does.
In our view, the next phase of Punjab's drug fight cannot stay focused only on the Pakistan border. It needs equal attention on inter-state movement of pharma drugs, stronger checks on pharmaceutical supply chains, and coordination with neighbouring states. If that does not happen, the fall in heroin supply may simply push more users toward pharma drugs — a challenge the police themselves have now flagged as the biggest one.
