J&K Police dismantled a sophisticated inter-state narcotics module in Srinagar on Thursday, arresting eight suspects in a raid that exposed a vast pipeline of banned pharmaceuticals. The operation, which began with the arrest of Waseem Zargar, unraveled a network traced to Chandigarh, Panchkula, and Ambala, with one suspect already apprehended in Bengaluru.
The haul was staggering. Police recovered over 2.19 lakh tablets and capsules of prohibited drugs, along with a .32-calibre pistol, two empty magazines, and a dagger. The financial footprint of the racket was just as heavy: Rs 85.75 lakh in cash, 108 gold coins, and gold biscuits were seized from the accused's residences.
"We have busted an organised network in the downtown area of Srinagar," said G V Sandeep Chakarvari, SSP Srinagar. The investigation went beyond the physical contraband. Police raided bank lockers in Zargar's name, uncovering an additional Rs 65 lakh in cash and gold worth approximately Rs 2.20 crore. Roughly Rs 1.07 crore was identified in other linked bank accounts, all of which have now been seized.
The crackdown extends into the regulatory gray zones of the pharmaceutical industry. Authorities are examining discrepancies in drug licenses, purchaser details, and invoices at establishments in Chandigarh and Ambala. This coordination with regulatory bodies aims to cut off the supply chain at its source, preventing the laundering of drug money through legitimate-looking commercial transactions.
Investigations are shifting focus to the financial trails and transport agencies used to move the contraband. Police are currently mapping the wider linkages of the module, particularly the connections to the Bengaluru suspect. The next phase will involve forensic audits of the seized accounts and potential charges under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act against the remaining fugitives in the network.