War on Drugs | Police launch crackdown on narcos, 62 arrested

Baramulla, Mar 1: To destroy the ecosystem of narcotics across north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, Police arrested 62 persons in connection with drug trafficking and attached properties worth Rs 1.1 crore from the drug peddlers during January and February.

The contraband worth Rs 35.02 lakh was also seized during this period.

Sharing details, a Police officer said that during January and February, Police registered 39 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) Act, 1985, and arrested 62 drug peddlers including seven hardcore drug peddlers.

He said that after obtaining legal permission from the competent authority, Police in Baramulla attached properties worth Rs 1.1 crore from the drug peddlers that include three residential houses, a shopping complex and three vehicles including two cars and a scooter belonging to drug peddlers.

The seized vehicles (JK01AK 2765 and JK05G 5682) and a scooter (JK05G 0116) belonged to notorious drug peddlers who were identified as Muhammad Zahid Shah of Basgra, Uri, Ahtishamuddin Khan of Ladoora, Rafiabad, and Reyaz Ahmad Ganaie of Batangi, Boniyar.

“Action was taken under Section 68-E read with 68-F (1) of the NDPS Act, 1985, linked with the case FIR No 54/2022 under Section 8/21 of the NDPS Act of Police Station Uri besides the case FIR No 71/2023 under Section 8/21-29 of the NDPS Act of Police Station Sheeri and case FIR No 352/2023 under Section 8/20 of the NDPS Act of Police Station Pattan,” the Police officer said.

He said that during an investigation conducted by the Police, the properties were identified as illegally acquired.

“The properties were prima facie acquired from illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances by the drug peddlers,” the Police officer said.

He said the attached property, a double-storey residential house worth Rs 24 lakh belonging to notorious drug peddler, Muhammad Zahid Shah was also attached by Police.

During the investigation, the property was identified as illegally acquired from illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances by the drug peddler. Contraband which include brown sugar, heroin, charas, cannabis powder, Spasmo Proxyvon Plus and Codeine Phosphate worth Rs 35 lakh was also seized during the same period.