Police bust inter-state drug network in Srinagar

Srinagar, Oct 1: Srinagar Police on Thursday claimed to have busted an inter-state narcotics network operating from downtown Srinagar, arresting eight persons and recovering more than 2.19 lakh pharmaceutical tablets and capsules, codeine, a heroin-like substance, cash, gold and a pistol.
Addressing a press conference, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar, Dr G.V. Sundeep Chakravarthy, said the action stemmed from the investigation of FIR No. 135/2026 registered at Police Station Safakadal under relevant sections of the NDPS Act, Arms Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
He said the probe unearthed a structured narcotics network allegedly involved in the procurement, transportation, storage, distribution and financing of banned pharmaceutical drugs, with links extending beyond Jammu and Kashmir.
“There was an organised network in downtown Srinagar with a well-established supply chain,” the SSP said.
The arrested accused have been identified as Mohammad Waseem Zargar of Malik Sahib, Safakadal; Inam Ahmad Zargar of Haftiyarbal, Safakadal; Sahib Ahmad Ganie of Danamazar, Safakadal; Ansar Hussain Bhat of Zabar Mohalla, Budgam; Peer Shakoor of Palpora, Noorbagh; Haroon Tariq Pandit, Aquib Saleem and Haris Hameed Malla, all residents of Guzarbal, Chattabal.
According to the SSP, Haris Malla was traced through technical surveillance and apprehended from Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Police recovered 2,19,425 pharmaceutical tablets and capsules, 3.83 kg of codeine-containing liquid and around 40 grams of a heroin-like substance.
The haul includes nearly 2,18,500 tapentadol tablets, 1,200 pregabalin capsules and 414 tramadol tablets/capsules. Police also recovered a .32-bore pistol with two empty magazines, a dagger and approximately Rs 85.75 lakh in cash.
The financial investigation led to the identification and freezing of nearly Rs 1.07 crore in multiple bank accounts linked to the accused and other persons under scrutiny.
The SSP said two lockers maintained by Mohammad Waseem Zargar at Axis Bank, Bemina, were searched following court orders, leading to the recovery of around Rs 65 lakh in cash and gold coins, biscuits and other gold articles. The total value of the locker recoveries has been estimated at around Rs 2.20 crore.
Other recoveries include 108 gold coins, gold biscuits and assorted gold articles, two Rolex watches, a Dior handbag, a DSLR camera with lens and an iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Police have also attached a residential house belonging to one of the accused and two vehicles, a Maruti Brezza (JK01AK-7523) and a Suzuki Ertiga (JK01AX-4601), in accordance with law.
Dr Chakravarthy said the investigation into the source of the drugs led police teams to Chandigarh, Panchkula and Ambala, where pharmaceutical establishments and transport agencies were examined.
Relevant invoices, bills, goods receipts and other documents were collected during the exercise, he said.
Police are scrutinising discrepancies related to drug licences, purchaser details, invoices, payment records and the functioning of certain establishments in coordination with regulatory authorities. Investigators are also examining the role of transport agencies allegedly used in the supply chain and tracing distributors and beneficiaries linked to the network.
Punjab Police and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) assisted Srinagar Police during the investigation.
The SSP said two accused remain absconding. They have been identified as Faizan Firdous alias Farzan Khanday of Safakadal and Mohammad Shahvar Gaur, who was identified during the investigation in connection with the pharmaceutical supply chain.
“Their precise roles and further linkages are being investigated,” he said.
Police are analysing digital devices seized during the probe to establish the complete procurement, transportation, distribution and financial chain.
Dr Chakravarthy said the investigation remains active and evidence-driven, with further arrests, recoveries, attachment of assets and other legal action likely based on emerging evidence.
“Our objective is to dismantle the entire narcotics supply chain rather than limit the action to individual arrests and recoveries,” he said, adding that Srinagar Police remains committed to identifying and dismantling the network of suppliers, transporters, distributors, financiers and other facilitators involved in the illicit drug trade. (KNO)