Srinagar police have successfully dismantled a sophisticated interstate network involved in the procurement, transportation, storage, distribution, and financing of banned pharmaceutical drugs. The operation, which has extended beyond the Jammu and Kashmir region, has led to the arrest of eight individuals and the seizure of substantial quantities of illicit substances and assets valued in crores of rupees.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Mohammad Waseem Zargar, Inam Ahmad Zargar, Sahib Ahmad Ganie, Ansar Hussain Bhat, Peer Shakoor, Haroon Tariq Pandit, Aquib Saleem, and Haris Hameed Malla. Information reaching Tahir Rihat suggests that one of the key accused, Haris Hameed Malla, was apprehended in Bengaluru, Karnataka, through extensive technical surveillance, highlighting the far-reaching nature of the drug syndicate’s operations.
The police have recovered a significant haul of contraband, including 2,19,425 tablets and capsules of pharmaceutical drugs, 3.830 kilograms of codeine-containing liquid, approximately 40 grams of a heroin-like substance, and a substantial amount of cash totaling approximately Rs 85.75 lakh. In addition to the drugs and cash, the investigation has also uncovered a considerable cache of gold, comprising 108 gold coins, gold biscuits, and other gold ornaments. Luxury items, including two Rolex watches, were also seized, alongside a .32-inch pistol with two empty magazines, a dagger, and two vehicles, indicating the financial clout and operational capabilities of the network.
As part of a comprehensive financial investigation, Srinagar police, acting on court orders, searched two bank lockers maintained by accused Mohammad Waseem Zargar at Axis Bank, Bemina. These searches yielded approximately Rs 65 lakh in cash, along with gold coins, biscuits, and other gold articles. The total value of the recovery from these lockers alone has been estimated at around Rs 2.2 crore, underscoring the scale of the illicit financial operations associated with the drug network.
Further financial probes have led to the identification and subsequent freezing or seizure of multiple bank accounts linked to the accused and other individuals under investigation, in accordance with legal provisions. To date, approximately Rs 1.07 crore has been identified and frozen, with ongoing efforts to trace the full extent of the financial linkages. In a significant move to disrupt the syndicate’s assets, one residential house and two vehicles have been attached under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, with the source of funds, transaction trails, and associated financial connections undergoing detailed examination.
The backward investigation into the origin of the pharmaceutical drugs has led Srinagar police teams to key locations including Chandigarh, Panchkula, and Ambala. During these investigations, pharmaceutical establishments and transport agencies were meticulously examined. Relevant invoices, bills, goods receipts, and other pertinent documents were obtained. Discrepancies noted in drug licenses, purchaser particulars, invoice details, payment records, and the operational functioning of certain establishments are currently being investigated in close coordination with the concerned regulatory authorities. The ongoing investigation aims to unravel the complete supply chain and dismantle the entire infrastructure supporting this interstate drug trafficking operation.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.
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