SIA Kashmir arrests narcotic smuggler absconding for over 3 years in narco-terror case

Srinagar, Sep 17: The State Investigation Agency (SIA) Kashmir has arrested a notorious narcotic smuggler who had been evading arrest for more than three years in a narco-terror case, officials said on Wednesday.

In a statement, an official spokesperson said that "The State Investigation Agency on Tuesday arrested a key narcotic smuggler who was wanted in a Narco-Terror case namely Zafraan Khan S/o Shafi Ullah Khan R/o Mohra Dawran, Uri of District Baramulla who was evading arrest for the last 03 years & he was apprehended by a special SIA team from Kathua district. His arrest marks a severe blow to narco-terror module backed by Pakistani based terror handlers."

He added that the module was involved in smuggling of narcotic substances through LOC Uri sector and subsequent transportation and sale in both the Kashmir valley and Jammu region. Sale proceeds of these narcotic substances were later channelised to sustain the waning terrorism in J&K.

The arrest pertains to a case registered under FIR No. 13/2022, U/S 8/21,29 NDPS act,13,17,18,38,40 of UA(P) Act which pertains to the recovery of 01 kg Heroine, 07 Kg Poppy Straw and 04 Kg Poppy seeds. The charge sheet in this case has already been filed against 05 members of this narco-terror module under UA(P)A and NDPS Act so far. This arrest would help SIA track forward & backward linkages in this case with a view to dismantle the narco terror modules operating in the valley, he said.

The spokesperson further said that over the past months, SIA Kashmir has intensified its crackdown against narco-terror networks across the Valley. Just last week, another notorious terror handler, Abdul Rashid Bhat, who had been absconding for more than two years, was arrested from Pulwama.

He added, “The results of these crackdowns highlight the unrelenting efforts of SIA Kashmir in their quest to dismantle the terror ecosystem.”