Srinagar: Police in Srinagar have busted a narcotics network, arresting eight people involved in the massive drug trade in Srinagar downtown, and recovered cash and movable assets worth several crores, a senior officer said on Thursday.
According to details shared by police, 2.18 lakh tapentadol tablets and 3.83 kg of codeine (both opioids) were among the substances recovered. The seized assets also include 108 gold coins and 17 grams of gold jewellery, while police said around Rs 1.07 crore held in multiple bank accounts has been frozen.
Two Rolex watches, a Dior ladies’ bag, a DSLR camera with lens and an iPhone 16 Pro Max were also recovered, while a .32-inch pistol along with two empty magazines and a dagger was also seized.
“We have busted a narcotics network in downtown Srinagar. We have arrested eight accused so far,” SSP GV Sundeep Chakravarty told reporters here, adding that the case assumes significance considering its scale.
He said the police investigated the module using backward links and found the source of narcotics in Chandigarh — where two pharma companies were involved in supplying the banned drugs.
“All accused have different roles. Our priority was to dismantle the network. One kilogram of gold was recovered from a locker. Heroin, a pistol and valuable watches were recovered,” Chakravarty said.
The SSP said the scale of recovery establishes that the network was huge and thanked the Punjab and Chandigarh Police for their cooperation.
“Our M R Gunj team, using backward links, traced the source to Panchkula. I want to thank the Punjab Police and Chandigarh Police. Some pharma companies and transport companies are under the scanner. We are investigating the beneficiaries and the supply links. We will not spare anybody from source to destination,” he said, adding that police are “striking at the roots of the drug trade”.
According to Chakravarty, more arrests are expected, and the probe has revealed the role of overground workers in the network. “But no links to Pakistan have surfaced yet,” he said.
Sharing details, the SSP said one of the accused, Haris Hameed Malla, of Guzerbal, Chattabal, was traced through technical surveillance and arrested in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
The other arrested persons were identified as Mohammad Waseem Zargar of Malik Sahib, Safakadal; Inam Ahmad Zargar of Haftiyarbal, Safakadal; Sahib Ahmad Ganie of Danamazar, Safakadal; Ansar Hussain Bhat of Zabar Mohallah, Budgam; Peer Shakoor of Soura, presently Palpora, Noorbagh; Haroon Tariq Pandit of Guzerbal, Chattabal; and Aquib Saleem of Guzerbal, Chattabal.
The investigation has simultaneously expanded into the alleged financial dealings of the accused. Following court orders, police searched two bank lockers held in the name of Mohammad Waseem Zargar at Axis Bank, Bemina.
The searches led to the recovery of around Rs 65 lakh in cash, besides gold coins, biscuits and other gold articles. Police have assessed the approximate value of the locker recoveries at around Rs 2.20 crore.
Several bank accounts linked to the accused and other persons under investigation have also been identified.
SSP Srinagar said around Rs 1.07 crore has so far been frozen or seized under the applicable legal provisions.
A residential house and two vehicles have also been attached under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
He also said that the financial investigation is examining the source of the funds, transaction trails and other financial linkages to establish the wider network behind the alleged drug trade.
The suspected supply chain, he said, has also taken investigators beyond Jammu and Kashmir. Police teams visited Chandigarh, Panchkula and Ambala, where pharmaceutical establishments and transport agencies were examined.
Investigators obtained invoices, bills, goods receipts and other documents as part of efforts to establish how the pharmaceutical drugs were procured and transported.
Discrepancies concerning drug licenses, purchaser details, invoices, payment records and the functioning of certain establishments are being examined in coordination with the concerned regulatory authorities.
Two persons identified during the investigation are still absconding. They have been identified as Faizan Firdous alias Farzan Khanday of Safakadal and Mohammad Shahvar Gaur, who police said surfaced during the investigation into the pharmaceutical supply chain.
The officer said efforts are underway to apprehend both and establish their precise roles and further linkages.
Digital devices recovered during the investigation are also being analysed to piece together the procurement, transportation, distribution and financial chain.
He said the investigation remains underway and further arrests, recoveries, freezing or attachment of assets and other legal action may follow as evidence and additional linkages emerge.
