J&K Police bust Pak-linked narco-terror syndicate; 6 held with 5kg heroin, 3 pistols | India News

JAMMU: J&K Police Thursday claimed to have busted a cross-border narco-terror syndicate operating in Jammu Division with the arrest of six suspects. Cops seized around 5kg heroin — valued at over Rs 30 crore in the international market — as well as arms and ammunition, including three pistols and six live rounds, during the operation.South Jammu SP Ajay Sharma, while addressing a press conference in Jammu, termed the arrests a major achievement. He said the digital footprints of the accused revealed that they were connected to Pakistani handlers supplying narcotics and other drugs to fuel anti-India activities.Gandhi Nagar PS registered a case under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) in this connection, SP Sharma said, adding that charges under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act had been added to the FIR. “Four of the suspects were sent to judicial custody,” he said.On Nov 14, around 5.20pm, a team from Gandhi Nagar PS on patrol duty near Shastri Nagar Shamshan Ghat noticed two pedestrians with bags moving suspiciously along the national highway. The suspects tried to flee upon spotting the cops but were caught after a brief chase. A search of their bags yielded more than 3kg heroin.Cops arrested the duo — Karan Sharma of Jourian, Akhnoor, and Niklesh Verma of Dhar Road, Udhampur — and registered an FIR under BNS Section 111 and NDPS Act. “Based on Karan Sharma’s disclosure, on Nov 19, police recovered 278g heroin concealed in his shop at Preet Nagar, Jammu,” the SP said.Further investigation led to the arrest of Mohd Yousaf alias Shamma of Narwal Bala, Jammu, from whose possession cops seized more than 53g heroin. He was found to be a forwarding link and a main drug peddler in the racket.“Karan also disclosed the involvement of Gulshan Kumar of Lamberi, Rajouri, who was handling the financial channels of the syndicate,” SP Sharma said, adding: “Upon his arrest and search of his vehicle, over 259g heroin was recovered. The vehicle, which had been specially modified for drug transportation, was also impounded.”Subsequent probe led cops to arrest Jaswinder Kumar alias Sonu, also from Lamberi, who was currently in Rajouri district jail in another drug case but had been operating from behind bars. “He was in touch with Karan through WhatsApp, acting as a mediator between interstate and cross-border suppliers,” SP Sharma said.Another suspect, Shamp Din alias Pappy of Suchetgarh, Jammu, was arrested based on technical evidence and statements of the other arrested suspects. A native of Kathua and accused in a 2023 murder case, Pappy had been evading police for a long time, the SP said. Based on information obtained from him, cops seized two pistols and three rounds from his house, the SP added.SP Sharma said all six accused were found interconnected and were part of an organised narco-terror network with international links, including Pakistan-based suppliers identified as Gill and Shah, believed to be the key sources of narcotics and arms. “Further probe is underway to trace the remaining members of the network, identify financial channels, and establish cross-border supply routes,” the SP said.