Drug smuggling from Pakistan using drones on the rise: Punjab & Haryana High Court

The Punjab and Haryana High Court recently flagged increasing instances of drugs being smuggled across the India-Pakistan border using drones. [Robert Masih v. State of Punjab]

Justice Rupinderjit Chahal observed that this poses a grave threat to national security and the well-being of the nation's youth.

"There is steady increase in cross border smuggling of illicit drugs through drones these days. The increasing instances of drug smuggling through drones in India from across the border i.e. Pakistan pose a grave threat not only to the security of the nation but also impacts the youth of the nation," the Court said in its order.

The Court made the observation while considering an anticipatory bail plea moved by a man accused of being involved in smuggling heroin from Pakistan to India using drones.

The petitioner contended that he was falsely implicated in the case merely based on a statement given by a co-accused. The co-accused had claimed that the petitioner is the one who paid for the drugs that were smuggled across the border.

However, the petitioner maintained that he was not involved in the case.

His first attempt at securing anticipatory bail from the trial court failed, prompting him to approach the High Court with the present plea.

However, counsel appearing for the State strongly opposed the plea, arguing that the petitioner was found to be part of a drug nexus that smuggles heroin from Pakistan using drones. He further argued that custodial interrogation of the petitioner was required to ascertain his precise role and to recover the drones, mobile devices, SIM cards and bank accounts related to the drug nexus.

Pertinently, the State counsel submitted that the petitioner was involved in many such cases and that he was declared a proclaimed offender in May this year.

Considering these facts, and the gravity of the allegations, the Court agreed that custodial interrogation would be necessary and dismissed the plea for anticipatory bail.

The petitioner was represented by advocate Ritesh Pandey.

Deputy Advocate General Ravinder Singh appeared for the State of Punjab.

[Read Order]