Police in Jammu & Kashmir's Kathua district have uncovered a cross-border drug syndicate using drones to drop narcotics from Pakistan. Four individuals have been arrested, among whom are two employees of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) project. This syndicate has been responsible for delivering over 30 kg of heroin across Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shobhit Saxena reported a joint operation conducted by police and BSF near the international border at Chan Tanda village in Hiranagar sector on July 29. During this operation, about half a kilogram of opium was seized, which had been air-dropped via drone from across the border. Suspects Sukhwinder Singh and Arshdeep Singh were apprehended in connection with this incident.
Both suspects were employed in the NHAI project located in the Ghagwal-Samba sector. Interrogation revealed that the narcotics consignment originated from Pakistan. Based on their disclosures, 411 grams of heroin were recovered. A notorious drug trafficker from the Rajbagh area of Kathua, Feroz Din, also known as Allu, was arrested. He maintained direct contact with drug traffickers based in Pakistan.
Subsequently, from Tarn Taran in Punjab, the police captured the network’s kingpin and main financer. This individual received direct orders from overseers in Pakistan and funneled earnings from drug sales back to Pakistan through hawala. Heroin and cash were seized from him. The intricate operations of this syndicate allowed it to evade police detection for an extended period.
Meanwhile, another case emerged in Kathua district where the police arrested five drug traffickers. Heroin was confiscated during the arrests. Two suspects, Murad Ali and Bag Hussain, were apprehended with cash and narcotics on Monday. Based on their leads, three more individuals were arrested, and 20 grams of heroin along with cash was seized.
