Srinagar: Two “narcotic smugglers who had received consignments from across the Line of Control” were arrested in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district and 4.5 kg heroin-like substance seized from them, police said on Friday.
“The smugglers aimed to promote addiction and further the cause of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir,” they said.
Based on specific input, five packets of heroin-like substance weighing about 4.588 kg were recovered from Kupwara’s Karnah area in two separate incidents during the night, a police spokesperson said.
In the first case, based on input about narcotics smuggling in the Taad area, Panjitara Karnah resident Farooq Ahmad Shah, son of Raqueeb Hussain Shah, was picked up for questioning.
On the basis of his confession, the police and the Army recovered three packets of heroin-like substance weighing 2.674 kg from a hiding place near his home, the spokesperson added.
Shah was arrested and further investigation is ongoing. More arrests are expected, he added.
A case vide FIR No.17/2023 U/S 8/21-29 NDPS Act was registered in Police Station Karnah in this regard.
In another case, Raja Aftab Alias Babu, son of Raja Ghulam Akbar, resident of Teethwal was detained for questioning.
Two packets of heroin-like substance weighing about 1.914 kg were recovered near his house, the spokesperson said.
Aftab has also been arrested and further investigation is underway.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that both the accused are notorious narcotic smugglers and had received the consignments from across the Line of Control to promote drug addiction and further the cause of terrorism in the Union Territory,” the police spokesperson added. He also said a case FIR No. 18/2023 U/S 8/21-29 NDPS Act was registered in this regard at Police Station Karnah.
Separately, four drug-peddlers were arrested in Baramulla, Kulgam and Handwara, police informed.
In Baramulla, a drug peddler identified as Ishfaq Ahmad Lone, son of Mohammad Maqbool Lone of Nowpora Kreeri was arrested with 7.5 kgs of poppy-straw like substance.
In Kulgam, 15 kgs of poppy-straw like substance was recovered from his possession of one Mohammad Yaqoob Thoker, Ghulam Mohammad Thoker of Ahmadabad DH Pora.
In Qazigund, 290 grams of cannabis-like substance were recovered from the possession of Irshad Ahmad Bhat, son of Mohammad Maqbool Bhat of YK Pora.
In Handwara, 34 grams of cannabis-like substance were recovered from the possession of one Javid Ahmad Mir, son of Mohammad Sadiq of Langate.
All these persons have been arrested and cases under relevant sections of law have been registered at respective police stations and further investigations initiated, police said.
