Two Pakistani smugglers killed, 12 kg heroin seized in Punjab

Chandigarh, March 29 (IANS) The BSF has killed two Pakistani smugglers along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab and recovered 12 kg heroin, valued at Rs.50 crore in the international market, from them, an official said on Sunday.

The Border Security Force (BSF) troopers also recovered one AK-47 assault rifle, magazines and 31 rounds of ammunition from the spot in the Amritsar sector following a search operation on Sunday.

The heroin, wrapped in 12 packets, was found near the Border outpost of Rattan Khurd in the sector, 285 km from here.

A BSF spokesman said the troopers saw suspicious movement near the outpost on late Saturday.

The smugglers were using a plastic pipe to smuggle the heroin into India, he said, adding the smugglers were challenged but they opened fire on the BSF troopers, who returned the fire.

With the latest seizure, the BSF has seized over 123 kg of heroin this year in the Punjab sector valued at over Rs.615 crore. Of this, over 64 kg heroin, valued at over Rs.320 crore, has been seized in the Amritsar sector alone.

The seizure of heroin in 2014 in the Punjab sector was 361 kg.