Examiner Bureau | Srinagar:
Srinagar Police have busted an alleged organised narcotics network operating in downtown Srinagar, arresting eight persons and recovering a large quantity of banned drugs, a pistol, Rs 85.76 lakh in cash and gold valued at more than Rs 1.05 crore, officials said on Thursday.
Addressing a press conference, Srinagar SSP Dr G.V. Sundeep Chakravarthy said the investigation had uncovered what police described as a structured drug-supply chain, with the accused allegedly performing different roles within the network.
The case has been registered under FIR No. 135/2026 at Police Station Safakadal under Sections 8, 21, 22, 29, 25 and 27A of the NDPS Act, Sections 3, 4 and 25 of the Arms Act and Section 111 of the BNS.
“There was an organised network in downtown and it was a well-organised supply chain,” the SSP said.
According to police, the recoveries include 3.830 kilograms of codeine, around 40 grams of heroin, 414 tablets/capsules containing tramadol, approximately 2,18,500 tablets containing tapentadol and 1,200 capsules containing pregabalin.
A pistol was also recovered during the investigation, along with around Rs 85.76 lakh in cash, police said.
The police also recovered 108 gold coins and around 17 grams of MMTC-PAMP/jewellery. The combined value of the recovered gold and jewellery has been estimated at Rs 1,05,29,400.
As part of the financial investigation, police said around Rs 1.07 crore lying in multiple bank accounts has been frozen.
A residential house belonging to Mohammad Waseem Zargar and two vehicles have also been attached, police said. The vehicles include a Maruti Brezza bearing registration number JK01AK-7523 and a Suzuki Ertiga bearing registration number JK01AX-4601.
Police said the financial probe is aimed at tracing the flow of funds allegedly generated through the narcotics network.
The arrested accused have been identified as Mohammad Waseem Zargar of Patlipora, Chattabal; Haris Hameed Malla of Guzarbal, Chattabal; Aqib Saleem Dar of Rampora, Chattabal; Inam Ahmad Zargar of Haftiyar, Safa Kadal; Sahib Ahmad Ganaie of Danamazar, Safa Kadal; Ansar Hussain Bhat of Zabar Mohalla, Budgam; Peer Shakoor of Palpora, Noorbagh; and Haroon Pandit of Guzarbal, Chattabal.
Police said the investigation has revealed different alleged roles in the supply chain and is continuing to establish the wider network.
The investigation has also been extended outside Jammu and Kashmir, with police teams reaching Chandigarh and Punjab.
The SSP said the Punjab Police and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) had assisted Srinagar Police in the investigation.
“We reached up to Chandigarh. Punjab Police and the NCB also supported us,” Chakravarthy said.
Police are now examining the transport agencies allegedly used to move the narcotics and are tracing the alleged forward links, distributors and beneficiaries connected with the network.
Police said three alleged associates—Mazam Firdous Khanday, Farzan Pallwala and Mohammad Sharvar, all residents of Muzaffar Nagar in Uttar Pradesh—are absconding.
The SSP said further arrests and recoveries were likely as the investigation progresses.
He said the police investigation was not confined to arrests and seizures but was focused on dismantling the wider supply chain.
“Along with arrests and recoveries, Srinagar Police’s target is to dismantle the entire narcotics model,” he said.
Police said the investigation remains underway to identify other persons allegedly linked to the network and establish the complete supply and financial chain.
