3 drug peddlers held with contraband substance in Awantipora & Budgam: Police

Srinagar, Oct 14: Continuing its efforts to eradicate the menace of drugs from the society, Jammu and Kashmir Police have arrested three drug peddlers in Awantipora & Budgam and recovered contraband substances from their possession.

Police in a statement said that in Awantipora, a police party headed by SHO Police Station Pampore at a checkpoint established at Tulbagh Pampore, intercepted two suspicious persons. They have been identified as Tabish Rafiq Bhat son of Mohammad Rafiq Bhat resident of Namblabal Pampore and Tariq Ahmad Sheikh son of Ghulam Nabi Sheikh resident of Tulbagh Pampore. During search, officers were able to recover 80 grams of Charas Powder like substance from their possession. They have been arrested and a case vide FIR No. 104/2025 under relevant sections of law has been registered at Police Station Pampore and investigation has been initiated.

In Budgam, Police Station Beerwah received credible information that Shabir Ahmad Sofi, son of Gulzar Ahmad Sofi, resident of Arwah, Beerwah, was involved in drug peddling and had stored a large quantity of narcotic substance at his residence for illegal sale among local youth. Acting swiftly, a police party led by SHO PS Beerwah, along with the Executive Magistrate Beerwah, conducted a raid at the suspect’s house. During the search, a narcotic-like substance (Ganja) weighing approximately 21.644 kilograms was recovered. The accused was arrested on the spot and a case FIR No. 146/2025 under Sections 8/20 of the NDPS Act has been registered at Police Station Beerwah, and further investigation is underway, police said.

Police urged the general public to remain vigilant and report any instances of drug peddling or other criminal activities to the nearest police station or by dialling 112.