Srinagar: Police in Baramulla arrested nine drug smugglers and recovered 1.78 kgs of contraband heroin-like substance alongwith cash amounting ₹ 69.20 Lacs from Nambla, Isham and Bandi Uri areas of the district, officials informed Tuesday.
They said at Nambla Uri, a specific information was received by police regarding smuggling of narcotics by Irfan Ahmad Najar, son of Noor Din Najar; Mehmooda Begum, wife of Irfan Ahmad Najar; and Ghulam Rasool Sheikh, all residents of Nambla Uri.
Subsequently, police raided the house of Irfan Ahmad Najar and recovered 490 grams of contraband heroin-like substance and cash amounting ₹ 6,45,200. Najar and his wife Mehmooda Begum were arrested, police said in a statement.
On their disclosure, the house of Ghulam Rasool Sheikh, son of Noor Din Sheikh, resident of Nambla-A was searched and during search contraband heroin-like substance weighing 520 grams and cash amounting to ₹ 5,79,500 was seized, police said.
It said during sustained questioning and on their disclosure, the house of Mohammad Subhan Dar, son of Abdul Aziz Dar of Hathlanga was also searched and contraband heroin-like substance weighing 420 grams and cash amounting to ₹ 56,95,600 rupees was seized.
In total, contraband heroin weighing 1.430 kilograms was recovered and cash amounting to ₹ 69,20,300 as “proceeds of drugs smuggling” was recovered, the statement said.
At Isham Uri, acting on specific information regarding smuggling of narcotics, police established a checkpoint at Isham Crossing and arrested two persons — Mohammad Hafeez Aabasi, son of Abdul Rashid Aabasi, and Zahid Hussain Aabasi, son of Abdul Rashid Aabasi, both residents of Gowaltha.
During their personal search, two packets of contraband heroine-like substance — weighing 65 grams and 75 grams respectively, were recovered.
At Bandi Rest House Uri, based on specific information, police stopped a dumper truck (JK05D-8441) arrested three persons — Mohammad Saleem Qureshi, son of Mohammad Ashraf Qureshi of Nambla (driver); and Mohd Rafiq Awan, son of Ali Hussain Awan, resident of Thajal; and Afra Siyab, son of Abdul Majeed Ganie, resident of Nambla.
During the personal search of Afra Siyab, one packet of heroin-like substance weighing 80 grams was recovered, while another pack of 60 grams was recovered from Mohammad Rafiq Awan and a third packet weighing 70 grams was recovered from driver’s seat, police said.
“During preliminary investigation it was learnt that under a well-hatched conspiracy, Pakistan-based handlers are pushing drugs inside J&K through such smugglers to spread drug addiction amongst youth of J&K,” police said.
It said this seizure “represents a significant blow to the narcotics trade network operating in the Baramulla area.”
