Shadow Correspondent
Srinagar, Dec 24 :
In a major crackdown against drug trafficking, Srinagar Police have arrested 156 accused persons involved in peddling and trafficking Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances and recovered huge quantities of drugs besides seized properties under the Narco Act during 2024.
Police said that during 2024, 94 cases under the NDPS Act have been registered in several Police Stations across the district and 156 accused persons involved in peddling and trafficking of narcotics and psychotropic substances have been arrested by Srinagar Police.
Among them, 26 notorious drug peddlers have been booked under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (PIT-NDPS Act) and are lodged in different jails of J&K including ( Central Jails, Udhampur, Bhaderwah, Kathua Kot Balwal Jammu, etc ) after obtaining the formal detention orders from Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir based on dossiers prepared by Srinagar police against them.
“These drug peddlers have been involved in the peddling of narcotics among the youth of Srinagar on an alarming scale”, police said adding “Besides, they were also involved in several NDPS Act cases of various police stations of Srinagar”.
“Despite several NDPS Act cases registered against them, they didn’t mend their ways after getting bailed out from courts and were brazenly promoting drugs among the youth of the valley, especially in Srinagar, through their illegal narcotics network”, police added.
“The properties, both movable and immovable, acquired by the drug peddlers through proceeds of illegal trafficking of drugs and narcotics have been attached by the Police under provisions of section 68 of the NDPS Act”, they said.
Among these, the Police have attached 7 vehicles and 7 residential houses which were acquired illegally by the accused persons through the narcotics trade. The estimated value of the properties attached is Rs 4.47 crores. Besides, 23 bank accounts belonging to these drug peddlers have been frozen in NDPS Act cases.
The recoveries of drugs and narcotics made by Srinagar Police include during the year are Brown Sugar – 1.17 kg, Heroin – 2.92 kg, Charas – 13.13 kg, Ganja – 10.16 kg, Crystal meth – 2.83 kg, Cannabis/Poppy Straw – 44.18 kg, Psychotropic substances – 284 bottles and 2823 tabs of banned drugs.
Moreover, Rs 4, 90, 696 in cash, 17 mobile phones, and 1 drone have also been recovered from the drug peddlers, police added.
J&K Police affirms its steadfast commitment to eliminating drug peddling in the region with the full might of the law and cautioned those engaged in this unlawful activity that the long arm of the law would catch them sooner than anticipated and every offender will face justice.
