Police intensify crackdown on drug networks, five peddlers held
Srinagar: Continuing the sustained campaign against drug trafficking and substance abuse, police achieved significant success in separate anti-narcotics operations in Anantnag and Shopian, leading to the arrest of five drug peddlers and recovery of contraband substances, a police spokesman said Saturday.
He said that in Anantnag, a police party at Sangam established a naka at Halmulla, Sangam and intercepted a Honda City bearing registration number JK01AG-4342 travelling from Jammu towards Srinagar.
During checking, approximately 12.7 grams of heroin-like substance was recovered from the possession of Syed Sahil alias “Doggy” son of Syed Sharif-ud-Din resident of Firdous Colony Bemina, Srinagar, at present Rayar Budgam, Farhan Majeed Wani son of Abdul Majeed Wani resident of Gaberpora Hall, Shopian and Uzair Ahmad Itoo son of Riyaz Ahmad Itoo resident of Sehpora, Dooru. The vehicle used in the commission of the offence was also seized.
In another operation, Police at Sangam apprehended one person near Naina Bridge, G.B. Khalil, Naina. The accused, identified as Sartaj Ahmad Allie son of Ghulam Mohiuddin Allie resident of Naina Batpora, was found in possession of approximately 19 grams of brown sugar.
Meanwhile in Shopian, Police at Imamsahib arrested one drug peddler during routine naka checking at Chanchward Crossing. Acting on suspicion, the police party intercepted and searched the individual, leading to the recovery of approximately 300 grams of poppy straw-like substance.
The accused has been identified as Mohammad Ashraf Bhat son of Abdul Ahad Bhat resident of Barbugh Imamsahib.
Accordingly, cases under relevant sections of law have been registered at respective police stations and investigations have been taken up to identify the wider network involved in narcotics trafficking, the spokesman added.
Meanwhile, police in Kulgam intensified its crackdown against drug peddlers and their support networks through a series of decisive actions across the district.
In a major breakthrough, Police busted a covert drug supply network operating through indirect channels and arrested two accused involved in narcotics trafficking. On 02/05/2026, during naka checking at Kurigam near Railway Crossing, a police party apprehended one Sajad Ahmad Dar resident of Nishat, Srinagar, after he attempted to flee on noticing the naka party. During his personal search, approximately 05 grams of Heroin-like substance was recovered from his possession. Accordingly, FIR No. 110/2026 under sections 8/21 NDPS Act was registered at Police Station Qazigund and investigation was initiated.
During the course of investigation, the backward linkage of the arrested accused led police to Firdous Ahmad Bhat son of Ghulam Rasool Bhat resident of Pehlipora, Waripora Safapora, Ganderbal.
Acting on credible leads and after obtaining a legal search warrant from the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate concerned, a police team conducted a raid at the identified location, apprehended the accused and recovered approximately 20 grams of Brown Sugar from his possession.
Investigation revealed that the accused had been operating discreetly for nearly the last one year while maintaining a clean profile to avoid suspicion. The accused adopted a highly secretive modus operandi by avoiding direct contact with drug peddlers and consumers and instead operating through agents/intermediaries for supply of narcotic substances. Most transactions were carried out during night hours using indirect methods of communication and delivery to evade police detection. Further investigation in the case is underway and more arrests and recoveries are expected, the spokesman added.
Meanwhile, in another significant action aimed at dismantling the financial and logistical infrastructure of the narcotics ecosystem, Kulgam Police along with the Revenue Department conducted a joint anti-encroachment drive at Sopat, Devsar and demolished an illegal commercial structure belonging to a drug peddler involved in FIR No. 93/2025 of Police Station Devsar. The demolished structure belonged to Showket Ahmad Wani son of Ghulam Rasool Wani resident of Sopat Devsar. The action was taken after it was established that the structure had been illegally constructed by encroaching upon state land.
These actions form part of J&K Police’s broader strategy to dismantle the narcotics ecosystem by targeting not only drug peddlers but also the illegal assets and infrastructure created through proceeds of criminal activities.
