The Faridkot Police have busted a jail-based international arms smuggling network with the arrest of two operatives and the recovery of 10 illegal pistols along with 20 live cartridges on Thursday.The syndicate allegedly retrieved weapons smuggled from Pakistan via drones on the instructions of its kingpin, who is currently lodged in jail.Acting on a tip-off regarding two suspects moving near Talwandi Bhai Road, close to the Central Modern Jail, carrying a heavy consignment of arms and ammunition for distribution or criminal execution, a team from the CIA Staff Faridkot laid a trap near the Kotkapura Road canal bridge and intercepted the duo.The arrested individuals have been identified as Rajbir Singh, alias Amit (21), and Amar Singh, alias Amar (25), both residents of Sann Sahib Road, Baba Deep Singh Colony, Chheharta, Amritsar district.During the operation, police recovered a cache of 10 illegal firearms and 20 live cartridges. The recovered weapons included three .30-bore Zigana pistols, one .30-bore PX-5 Storm pistol, two country-made .32-bore pistols and four country-made .30-bore pistols.Preliminary investigations indicate the module was being operated under the instructions of Deep Singh, alias Deepak, a resident of Raunwali, Attari, Amritsar, who is currently incarcerated.The gang maintained contact with cross-border smugglers in Pakistan to receive drone-dropped weapon consignments along the border belt, intending to supply them across Faridkot and neighbouring districts.A verification of criminal records revealed that the incarcerated handler, Deep Singh, already faces charges under the Arms Act and NDPS Act registered at the Gharinda police station in Amritsar on September 6. Both arrested operatives are currently unemployed with no prior criminal records listed.A case has been registered at the Faridkot City police station under Sections 25(6), 25(7), 54 and 59 of the Arms Act.Officials said further investigation is underway to identify local associates, trace the full supply chain and unravel the international linkages behind the operation.