Police bust interstate drug racket in Anantnag; 3 arrested

Anantnag, Oct 12: In a significant operation, police in Anantnag have dismantled a major interstate drug trafficking network by arresting three individuals involved in the illicit trade.

Acting on credible information about a consignment of narcotic drugs being transported from Delhi to Srinagar, police established multiple checkpoints along the route. During the inspection, a vehicle (Toyota car) was intercepted at Doonipora Bijbehra, with three persons onboard. They have been identified as Monty Singh, a resident of Bulandshahar, UP, and Ashish Bardawaj and Rahul, both residents of Chhatarpur, New Delhi. During the search, police recovered 413 bottles of Codeine Phosphate (NRX), branded as Codril-T, concealed in the car’s door panels. All three accused persons have been arrested and shifted to Police Station Bijbehara, where they remain in custody.

Further investigation revealed that the consignment was reportedly intended for delivery in Sopore and Srinagar. Acting swiftly, multiple raids were conducted, resulting in the detention of a local smuggler from Sopore for questioning.

Cooperation with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in New Delhi led to a raid at a warehouse in Noida’s Sector 135, where a substantial quantity of Codeine was recovered.

The key individuals behind the racket, identified as Sachin Rana and Arun Rana, both residents of Faridabad, are currently being sought. This operation has uncovered both the "forward and backward linkages of the interstate drug network, with further arrests expected as the investigation continues."