JAMMU: Kathua Police have busted an interstate drug trafficking syndicate involved in collecting air-dropped narcotics consignments from Pakistan via drones, smuggling the contraband to other parts of the country, and sending the proceeds of the sales to Pakistan. Cops arrested three men from Punjab and one from Kashmir in this connection, SSP Shobhit Saxena said at a press conference on Tuesday.On July 29, police received information about a narcotics consignment being drone-dropped in Chhan Tanda village near the international border in Kathua’s Hiranagar sector. Acting swiftly, a joint team of cops and BSF seized approximately 447g of opium. Hiranagar PS filed a case under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and launched a probe.During the investigation, police arrested two drug couriers — Punjab natives Sukhwinder Singh (Amritsar) and Arshdeep Singh (Gurdaspur) — tasked with collecting the drone-dropped drug packages and supplying them to traffickers. The duo was employed in an NHAI project in Samba’s Ghagwal, the SSP said.Their arrest led to the recovery of 411g of heroin meant to be supplied to traffickers at the next available opportunity, Saxena said. Police subsequently arrested the receiver, Feroz Din of Kathua’s Rajbagh, and found that he had been in touch with a Pakistan-based drug smuggler.Further questioning of the accused led cops to a drug kingpin and financier from Punjab’s Tarn Taran. “He was also in touch with the same Pakistan-based smuggler and was responsible for sending the proceeds of narcotics sale to Pakistan via hawala channels,” said the SSP, adding that cops seized heroin and cash from Feroz Din as well as the drug kingpin.Investigations revealed that the accused had already supplied over 30kg of heroin that had been air-dropped via drones into Punjab and J&K and circulated by drug peddlers in adjoining districts. “They ran a sophisticated syndicate, taking all precautions to evade law enforcement. Further investigation is underway, and more recovery and arrests are expected in the coming days,” SSP Saxena said.In a separate case, Kathua Police arrested two suspects — Murad Ali and Bagh Hussain — with cash and heroin earlier in July, the SSP said. Based on their statements, cops arrested three more men and seized 20g of heroin from the trio.