Srinagar: The State Investigation Agency (SIA) on Tuesday carried out raids at several places in Kashmir as part of a probe into a narco-terrorism case, officials said here.
The raids were carried out by sleuths of the SIA early morning in Anantnag, Baramulla, Budgam and Pulwama districts, they said.
The raids were part of investigations into the narco–terror funding case, they said.
On Monday, the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) conducted raids on two houses in the Tral area of Pulwama district.
The SIU said the raids were aimed at “eliminating the terror ecosystem by identifying the associates and supporters of terrorists.”
Meanwhile, anti-Narcotics Task Force has frozen bank accounts allegedly linked with the narco-trade and also confiscated a vehicle and items of gold, police said Tuesday.
It said during financial investigation in case FIR No.01 of 2022, ANTF (a specialized unit of J&K Police to check the rising menace of narcotics) found various bank accounts, one vehicle and gold items worth lakhs linked with narco trade. All the accounts have been frozen and vehicle and gold items have been seized.
Pertinently on September 26 last year, the ANTF had recovered 108 Kgs and 295 grams of poppy straw packed in empty apple boxes concealed in a truck (PB65AK-1791) at Al-Stop Mir Bazaar Anantnag on 26/09/2022. Truck driver along with the conductor were arrested on the spot and the vehicle had also been seized.
During investigation with regard to backward/forward linkage of the recovered contraband, involvement of other south Kashmir-based drug-peddlers and one Ludhiana-based drug peddler surfaced in the case.
The Ludhiana-based drug-peddler, the kingpin of narco-trade, has been found financing the illegal trade of narcotics in Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab, police said.
It said financial investigation under section 68-F read with 68-E of NDPS Act was carried out and bank account statements/property details of the involved drug-peddlers were obtained and analyzed.
During the probe, it was revealed that the Ludhiana-based drug-peddler identified by the alias Sunder had transferred huge amounts worth lakhs into the bank accounts of involved drug-peddlers – identified by the aliases Gowhar and Nazir, who were also arrested.
Huge amounts worth lakhs were found in the bank accounts of these two drug-peddlers and their family members.
One Creta vehicle and gold coins have also been found illegally acquired by the said arrested accused persons from illegal narco trade, police said, adding that two Freezing Order — ANTF/K/FIR/01/2022/1827-33 dated 28.12.2022 and ANTF/K/FIR/01/2022/01-08 dated 02.01.2023 were issued by freezing the bank accounts/other illegally acquired property in respect of above mentioned drug-peddlers.
An amount of Rs 24,52,149, the Creata vehicle worth Rs 11,10,172 and Gold coins worth Rs 10,66,300 have been frozen and seized by ANTF Kashmir, police said.
