New Delhi, August 28, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Pakistan-based narcotics cartels are increasingly targeting unemployed youth in Punjab to operate as couriers for drugs smuggled into India, with authorities stepping up action against the supply networks, officials said.
Tarn Taran, considered a major hub for cross-border drug smuggling, has emerged as a key focus of the cartels. Officials said around 99 per cent of drug consignments in the area are now reportedly delivered through drones.
According to an Intelligence Bureau official, unemployed youth are being recruited in large numbers because of the substantial payments offered for collecting and delivering consignments. A courier can reportedly earn between ₹20,000 and ₹40,000 for a single pickup and delivery.
The use of drones has also made the operation less risky for couriers. Earlier, they had to operate close to the border, evade security forces and collect narcotics from contacts coming across from Pakistan. Drones can now drop consignments deep inside Indian territory, allowing couriers to collect them farther from the border.
Officials estimate that nearly 20 attempts to deliver drugs are made every day. Even if around 15 succeed, they said, the cartels consider it a significant operational success.
Another official said the cartels maintain a pool of around 100 to 150 youth in border areas. Each individual is generally assigned only two or three pickups a month, with couriers regularly rotated to reduce the likelihood of detection.
Those handling three deliveries a month can reportedly earn between ₹60,000 and ₹1.2 lakh, depending on the quantity involved.
Authorities are also concerned about the alleged recruitment of juveniles, including children aged between 14 and 16. Officials said their age can make them less likely to attract suspicion, while India’s juvenile justice framework places children in conflict with law under a separate, primarily rehabilitative system rather than the adult criminal justice process.
The Punjab Police has intensified its crackdown on the supply chains, but drone-based deliveries remain a major challenge. Officials said Pakistan-based cartels are using increasingly sophisticated drones, including systems reportedly capable of satellite-linked, real-time information on security arrangements along the border.
According to officials, such technology can also allow drones to be recalled quickly if there is a risk of interception by Indian security agencies.
Officials said the financial incentives offered by the cartels remain one of the biggest challenges in preventing the recruitment of young people, as earnings from a few illicit deliveries can exceed what many unemployed youth might earn through regular employment.
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