Drug bust in Rajasthan: 5 kg methamphetamine seized, accused expose cross-border smuggling linked to Pakistan

JAISALMER: In a major breakthrough in Barmer, two alleged drug traffickers — Salman Khan and Shankar Ram — were arrested with 5 kg of methamphetamine smuggled across the Pakistan border. During interrogation, they reportedly exposed a highly secretive international smuggling network.

According to police, the accused claimed that cross-border operations are not limited to narcotics trafficking but also involve large-scale smuggling of explosives and illegal weapons.

Following these revelations, the Rajasthan Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), the Anti-Gangster Task Force, Barmer Police, and intelligence agencies have been placed on high alert.

Police conducted raids at the residences of suspected smugglers across multiple locations, including Gadraroad, Ramsar, Sedwa, Bijrad, and Bakhasar. Several suspects have been detained, and around a dozen people are currently being questioned.

The seized drugs are estimated to be worth around Rs 25 crore.

Based on inputs from the accused, ATS Rajasthan and local police launched coordinated raids across the district. On Tuesday, teams carried out a raid in Khalife Ki Bavdi village. When police reached the house of Roshan Khan Khalifa, women from the household protested, and the area turned tense with heavy police presence. After nearly six hours, Barmer SP Choonaram Jat arrived to oversee the operation. The accused later reached Ramsar Police Station in his own vehicle under police escort, where he was detained and questioned.

During a press conference, SP Choonaram Jat said the main accused, Salman, a resident of Sajjan Ka Par, had been in direct contact for the past six months with a Pakistan-based handler identified as Masad from Neemla village. Police said the link was facilitated by a local associate, Rahim Khan, who is reportedly related to the handler.

Investigators said the network used a sophisticated “dead drop” system. The handler would send Google Maps coordinates through WhatsApp calls, directing Salman to locations near the border or under isolated trees where drug consignments were buried. After collecting the packets, payments were either left as hidden cash at secret locations or transferred in instalments to his Airtel Payments Bank account.

Police said Salman had earlier received payments buried underground for similar deliveries. The latest consignment, consisting of five packets, was recovered on April 4 from a location about 250 metres from the border, buried in a plastic sack beneath a tree.

Further investigation revealed that the handler had been operating in border areas such as Bhabhutiyon Ki Dhani and nearby villages for the past five to six years. The network operated with extreme secrecy, with members having no direct contact and deleting chats and locations after each operation.

Police are now analysing Salman’s WhatsApp chats and bank transactions, and are searching for his associate Rahim Khan to dismantle the network.

A senior officer said the revelations point to a deeply rooted international network. Preliminary findings suggest that the activities may not be limited to drug trafficking but could also involve attempts to disrupt regional peace through the smuggling of explosives and weapons.

Joint interrogation by ATS SP Gyan Chand Yadav, Barmer SP Choonaram Jat, and other agencies is underway. Officials believe further arrests and key revelations are likely as the investigation continues.


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