From correspondents in Punjab, India, 07:01 PM IST

The Border Security Force (BSF) and the Punjab Police Monday recovered over 4 kg of heroin from the international border between India and Pakistan in Punjab's Amritsar district.

The contraband, valued at millions of rupees in the international market, was buried below the barbed wire fence erected by India inside its territory.

The seizure was while securitymen were on a routine check of the area next to the fence near the Kakkar post, BSF officials here said.

Amritsar's rural area police chief Iqbal Singh said a case has been registered under the Narcotics Act and investigations were on.

Smuggling of drugs, particularly heroin coming from Afghanistan through Pakistan, is common through the India-Pakistan border despite the barbed wire fence put up by India.

Farmers, whose agricultural land is beyond the fence but within India's territory, are allowed to go to their fields daily by the BSF from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.. Smugglers are known to use the area to hide drugs beyond the fence. The consignments are then picked up by those going beyond the fence for agricultural purposes.

In recent months, various agencies have seized over 200 kg of heroin from this border belt of Punjab.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)