Inter-State Drug Network Busted in Srinagar: 8 Arrested, Massive Haul of Contraband, Gold & Cash Seized
Srinagar: In one of the most comprehensive counter-narcotics breakthroughs in recent months, Srinagar Police have dismantled an entrenched inter-state narcotics and psychotropic supply cartel operating out of Downtown Srinagar. The wide-ranging operation resulted in the arrest of eight key operatives and the recovery of an enormous haul of commercial-grade pharmaceutical opioids, codeine, a heroin-like substance, an illegal firearm, and unexplained assets running into crores of rupees.
Addressing media persons during a detailed press briefing, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar, Dr G.V. Sundeep Chakravarthy, stated that the breakthrough materialized from in-depth investigations under FIR No. 135/2026 registered at Police Station Safakadal. The case invokes stringent provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the Arms Act, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Arrests and Nationwide Pursuit
The eight arrested accused have been identified as residents of Srinagar and adjoining Budgam district. In a coordinated multi-state tracking effort, one key conspirator was tracked down through specialized electronic surveillance and nabbed from Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Inventory of Seizures & Attached Properties
The scale of the recovery reflects the deep financial and logistical footprint of the network. During targeted raids across various premises and specialized searches:
Recoveries Effected During the Operation
- Psychotropic & Narcotic Drugs: 2,19,425 pharmaceutical tablets and capsules (comprising ~2,18,500 Tapentadol tablets, 1,200 Pregabalin capsules, and 414 Tramadol doses), 3.83 kg of codeine-based liquid, and around 40 grams of a heroin-like substance.
- Weapons: One .32-bore pistol accompanied by two empty magazines and an edged dagger.
- Hard Cash & Bank Freezes: Approximately ₹85.75 lakh in cash recovered directly; nearly ₹1.07 crore across several suspect accounts identified and frozen under NDPS provisions.
- Bank Locker Gold Assets: Court-mandated search of two Axis Bank lockers (Bemina branch) belonging to Mohammad Waseem Zargar yielded around ₹65 lakh cash alongside 108 gold coins, gold biscuits, and bullion valued at nearly ₹2.20 crore.
- Luxury Goods: Two Rolex watches, a luxury Dior handbag, a high-end DSLR camera with lens kits, and an iPhone 16 Pro Max.
- Property Attachments: A residential house owned by one of the prime conduits, alongside two vehicles—a Maruti Brezza (JK01AK-7523) and a Suzuki Ertiga (JK01AX-4601)—seized under legal provisions.
Inter-State Supply Trail Traced to Northern Hubs
Investigative teams tracked commercial supply linkages extending to pharmaceutical establishments and transport forwarders in Chandigarh, Panchkula, and Ambala. Extensive documentary evidence including purchase invoices, bilties, consignment delivery notes, and wholesale ledgers has been impounded in close coordination with regulatory drug authorities. The Punjab Police and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) provided critical operational synergy during interstate verifications.
Police confirmed that two additional suspects—identified as Faizan Firdous alias Farzan Khanday of Safakadal and Mohammad Shahvar Gaur (linked to the pharmaceutical transit chain)—are currently absconding. Dedicated teams have been deployed to effect their apprehension.
Digital devices seized from the accused are undergoing forensic extraction to map downstream street peddlers, financial conduits, and additional beneficiaries. Police noted that further property attachments and arrests remain imminent as the trial of financial transactions deepens.