The Jammu Police on Thursday claimed to have dismantled a cross-border narco-terrorism network with the arrest of six accused and the seizure of nearly 5 kilograms of heroin and three pistols, officials said.
Superintendent of Police Ajay Sharma said the seized narcotics are valued at over Rs 30 crore in the international market. Four of the arrested accused have been remanded to judicial custody.
“A major narcotics racket linked to Pakistani handlers has been busted in Jammu. The accused were part of a larger narco-terror module aimed at destabilising the country,” Sharma told reporters. He added that investigations into their digital footprints revealed cross-border coordination to smuggle drugs into India.
Calling it an unconventional war, the SP said relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) have been invoked, terming the case a clear instance of narco-terrorism.
The case was registered at Gandhi Nagar police station under the NDPS Act. During the initial phase of the probe, Karan Sharma of Jourian and Nikhlesh Verma of Udhampur were arrested, leading to the recovery of 3.26 kg of heroin.
Subsequently, police arrested Mohammad Yousef from Narwal, Gulshan Kumar of Rajouri—identified as the financial handler—and Jasvinder Kumar of Nowshera. Additional heroin was recovered from them. Gulshan’s vehicle, allegedly used for smuggling, was found to be specially modified with hidden cavities, police said.
Further investigation led to the arrest of Shamdin of Nikki Tawi, from whose residence police seized 619 grams of heroin, a pistol and live ammunition. Another accused, Abdul Hamid of Maraliya in RS Pura, is currently absconding. Police recovered two pistols, including an automatic weapon, and ammunition from his house.
Police said most members of the racket hailed from areas close to the Indo-Pakistan border, indicating a deliberate strategy to facilitate cross-border smuggling operations. Further investigation is ongoing.
