Pakistani Handlers and Drone-Based Smuggling in Jammu and Kashmir Border Villages: A Persistent Threat

Samba Times Special

On July 26, 2025, a significant recovery of approximately 500 grams of heroin was made in Chillyari village, Samba district, along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir. The consignment, suspected to have been dropped by a Pakistani drone, highlights the ongoing challenge of cross-border smuggling and raises critical concerns about the continued activity of Pakistani handlers and the potential for more dangerous payloads, including weapons for terrorist activities. This incident, coupled with similar occurrences in recent years, highlights the evolving nature of border threats and the urgent need for enhanced countermeasures to safeguard national security.

The Incident: Drone-Dropped Heroin in Samba

In the early hours of July 26, 2025, a vigilant villager in Chillyari reported a suspicious yellow packet dropped by a drone, believed to have originated from Pakistan. Acting swiftly, the Special Operations Group of the Jammu and Kashmir Police launched a search operation, recovering a consignment of 498 grams of heroin. An FIR was registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act at Ghagwal police station, signaling the seriousness of the incident. This seizure follows a similar event on December 15, 2024, when Border Security Force (BSF) troops intercepted a drone carrying 495 grams of narcotics in the Arnia sector of Samba, indicating a pattern of drone-based smuggling in the region.

Persistent Activity of Pakistani Handlers

The use of drones to smuggle narcotics across the India-Pakistan border is not a new phenomenon but has grown increasingly sophisticated and frequent. Pakistani handlers, often linked to the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and terror outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, have exploited advancements in drone technology to facilitate smuggling operations. According to the BSF, drone sightings along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Jammu have surged, with 492 recorded incidents from 2020 to 2022, including 75 in Jammu alone. These drones, often equipped with enhanced range, speed, and stealth capabilities, are used to drop not only drugs but also arms, ammunition, and explosives, posing a multifaceted threat.

The July 26 incident suggests that Pakistani handlers remain active, leveraging drones to deliver contraband to local operatives or intermediaries in border villages. Experts said that these drones are becoming harder to detect, with features like zigzag flight patterns and deliberate crashes after drops, indicating a tactical shift toward militarized trafficking. The involvement of Pakistan’s ISI in supporting these operations, as alleged by Indian officials, points to a deliberate strategy to destabilize the region through narco-terrorism, where drug profits are often funneled to finance terrorist activities.

The Looming Risk of Weapon Smuggling for Terrorism

While the Samba incident involved heroin, the potential for drones to deliver weapons and explosives for terrorist purposes is a growing concern. Since 2019, when the first recorded drone delivery of arms was noted in Punjab, the threat has escalated. The 2021 drone attack on the Jammu Air Force Station, where two unmanned aerial vehicles dropped improvised explosive devices, marked a turning point, demonstrating the use of drones for direct terrorist attacks. Such incidents highlight the vulnerability of border areas to drone-based terror tactics.

Experts claimed that Pakistani drones are being used to smuggle not just drugs but also weapons and explosives, with the BSF intercepting multiple such attempts. The proximity of Jammu and Kashmir to the “Golden Crescent” — a heroin-producing region spanning Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran — amplifies the risk, as smuggling syndicates exploit the region’s porous borders. The recovery of a Turkish Kamikaze drone in Jammu’s Naushera area in May 2025 further highlights the potential for drones to carry lethal payloads.

The implications are dire. Drones capable of carrying weapons could arm terrorist groups operating in Jammu and Kashmir, reigniting violence in a region already grappling with a three-decade-long insurgency. The April 22, 2025, terror attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 tourists and prompted India’s retaliatory Operation Sindoor, serves as a stark reminder of the stakes involved. Any escalation in drone-based weapon smuggling could fuel similar attacks, threatening both civilian lives and regional stability.

India’s Countermeasures and Challenges

India has taken significant steps to counter the drone threat. The BSF and Indian Army have deployed advanced counter-drone systems, including radar-based detection and jamming technologies, to neutralize hostile UAVs. The interception of drones in Samba and Arnia demonstrates the effectiveness of these systems. During Operation Sindoor in May 2025, India’s air defense systems, including the S-400 missile defense system, successfully countered Pakistani drones and missiles, showcasing technological prowess.

However, challenges persist. The increasing sophistication of drones, as experts claimed, makes detection and interception more difficult. The BSF has reported that smugglers are using upgraded drones with enhanced stealth and maneuverability, complicating surveillance efforts. Additionally, inter-agency coordination issues and the vast expanse of the border pose logistical hurdles. The surge in infiltration attempts — with over 45 recorded in May 2025 alone — indicates that Pakistani handlers are exploiting these gaps.

Recommendations for Enhanced Security

To address the dual threat of narco-smuggling and potential weapon drops, India must adopt a multi-pronged approach:

1. Advanced Counter-Drone Technology: Investing in AI-driven detection systems and laser-based interception technologies can improve response times and accuracy against stealthy drones.
2. Strengthened Border Surveillance: Deploying additional sensors, drones, and ground patrols in vulnerable sectors like Samba, Kathua, and Poonch can deter smuggling attempts.
3. Community Vigilance: The role of local villagers, as seen in the Chillyari incident, is crucial. Awareness campaigns and incentives for reporting suspicious activities can bolster grassroots intelligence.
4. International Cooperation: India should press for global action against Pakistan’s alleged support for narco-terrorism, including raising the issue at forums like the UN and FATF to curb terror financing.
5. Disrupting Local Networks: Targeting local operatives who retrieve drone-dropped consignments is essential to break the smuggling chain. Enhanced intelligence operations can help identify and neutralize these networks.

Conclusion

The recovery of 500 grams of heroin in Samba is a stark reminder that Pakistani handlers remain active along the India-Pakistan border, using drones to smuggle narcotics and, potentially, weapons. While India’s security forces have made strides in countering this threat, the evolving tactics of smugglers and the risk of terror-related payloads demand heightened vigilance and innovation. The nexus of narco-smuggling and terrorism, backed by Pakistan’s ISI, poses a significant challenge to regional stability. By strengthening technological, operational, and community-based defenses, India can mitigate these risks and safeguard its borders from this insidious threat.