SRINAGAR: In an intensified effort to combat the escalating drug crisis plaguing the region, the Jammu Kashmir Police have orchestrated a multifaceted operation spanning Budgam and Kulgam districts, targeting both drug cultivation and trafficking networks.
In Budgam, a meticulously planned operation saw a joint task force comprising Police and officials from the revenue and excise departments descending upon the sprawling fields of Pallar. There, a substantial expanse of illicit poppy cultivation was unearthed and promptly destroyed. The concerted effort led to the identification and subsequent filing of FIRs against 16 individuals implicated in the illegal cultivation, signifying a resolute stance against narcotics proliferation in the area.
Simultaneously, in Baramulla, police executed a decisive move by attaching properties belonging to Shabir Ahmad Sofi, a notorious drug peddler. The properties, including a double-storied residential house and land spanning 9 marlas, were estimated to be worth approximately Rs 50 lakhs. This action, carried out under the stringent provisions of the NDPS Act, dealt a significant blow to the infrastructure supporting drug trafficking activities in the region.
Besides, the crackdown extended to the apprehension of three individuals involved in drug peddling activities across Budgam and Kulgam. In Budgam, a police team intercepted a motorcycle at Choon crossing, leading to the arrest of two individuals in possession of a substantial quantity of contraband substances, including poppy straw and charas. The seizure also included cash believed to be proceeds from narcotics transactions. In Kulgam, another individual was apprehended with a sizable amount of poppy straw, highlighting the pervasive nature of the drug trade in the area.
