Srinagar, Sep 26 (KNO): Srinagar Police have busted an alleged organised narcotics network operating in downtown Srinagar, arresting eight persons and recovering banned drugs, a pistol, Rs 85.76 lakh in cash and gold worth over Rs 1.05 crore, officials said.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, SSP Srinagar Dr G.V. Sundeep Chakravarthy, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said the arrests were made during an investigation into an organised drug-supply network in which the accused allegedly had different roles.
The case pertains to FIR No. 135/2026 registered under Sections 8/21/22/29/25/27A of the NDPS Act, Sections 3/4/25 of the Arms Act and Section 111 of the BNS at Police Station Safakadal.
The arrested accused have been identified as Mohammad Waseem Zargar of Patlipora, Chattabal; Haris Hameed Malla of Guzarbal, Chattabal; Aqib Saleem Dar of Rampora, Chattabal; Inam Ahmad Zargar of Haftiyar, Safa Kadal; Sahib Ahmad Ganaie of Danamazar, Safa Kadal; Ansar Hussain Bhat of Zabar Mohalla, Budgam; Peer Shakoor of Palpora, Noorbagh; and Haroon Pandit of Guzarbal, Chattabal.
“There was an organised network in downtown and it was a well-organised supply chain,” the SSP said.
He said police recovered 3.830 kilograms of codeine, around 40 grams of heroin, 414 tablets/capsules containing tramadol, around 2,18,500 tablets containing tapentadol and 1,200 capsules containing pregabalin.
A pistol was also recovered along with approximately Rs 85.76 lakh in cash, he said.
Police also recovered 108 gold coins and around 17 grams of MMTC-PAMP/jewellery, with their combined approximate value put at Rs 1,05,29,400.
The SSP said around Rs 1.07 crore held in multiple bank accounts had been frozen, while a residential house belonging to Mohammad Waseem Zargar and two vehicles—a Maruti Brezza bearing registration number JK01AK-7523 and a Suzuki Ertiga bearing registration number JK01AX-4601—had been attached.
He said the investigation had extended beyond Jammu and Kashmir, with police teams reaching Chandigarh and Punjab, while the Punjab Police and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) supported the probe. “We reached up to Chandigarh. Punjab Police and the NCB also supported us,” he said.
The SSP said police were investigating the transport agencies allegedly used in the supply chain and working to identify the forward links, distributors and beneficiaries of the network.
He said the investigation was aimed at dismantling the entire narcotics supply chain rather than limiting the action to individual arrests and recoveries.
“Along with arrests and recoveries, Srinagar Police’s target is to dismantle the entire narcotics model,” he said.
Police said the accused included Mazam Firdous Khanday, Farzan Pallwala and Mohammad Sharvar of Muzaffar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, who are absconding.
The SSP said further arrests and recoveries could follow as the investigation progresses.—(KNO)