The Amritsar police have busted a cross-border smuggling network allegedly dealing in both narcotics and illegal arms, arresting five persons and recovering 21.299 kg of heroin, 970 grams of ICE (methamphetamine), a .30-bore pistol and four live cartridges.The seizure assumes significance as the investigation has indicated a direct link between one of the key accused and a foreign-based smuggler, who allegedly facilitated the movement of drugs and weapons across the international border. According to the police, the accused were allegedly part of a network involved in receiving and distributing consignments of narcotics and illegal firearms. Investigators are now working to establish how the contraband entered the country and identify its intended recipients.An FIR has been registered at the Airport police station in Amritsar. The police have launched a probe into the network’s forward and backward linkages, including its alleged foreign connections, local distributors and other persons involved in the smuggling chain.”We are working towards examining the financial trail of the operation and ascertaining whether the same network was involved in earlier consignments of narcotics or weapons. Further investigation is underway to identify all members of the network and establish their links with the foreign-based handlers,” said the police.