Srinagar, Oct 1: Police have busted an alleged drug network in Srinagar, arresting eight people and recovering narcotics, a pistol, ₹85.76 lakh in cash and gold and jewellery worth over ₹1.05 crore, officials said on Thursday.
The arrests and recoveries were made during an investigation into a structured narcotics network allegedly operating in downtown Srinagar.
SSP Srinagar Dr G.V. Sundeep Chakravarthy said the investigation revealed that the accused were allegedly involved in different stages of the drug trade, including procurement, transportation and distribution.
The case has been registered as FIR No. 135/2026 at Police Station Safakadal under Sections 8, 21, 22, 29, 25 and 27A of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, Sections 3, 4 and 25 of the Arms Act and Section 111 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The arrested persons have been identified as Mohammad Waseem Zargar, Haris Hameed Malla, Aqib Saleem Dar, Inam Ahmad Zargar, Sahib Ahmad Ganaie, Ansar Hussain Bhat, Peer Shakoor and Haroon Pandit.
Police said the recoveries included 3.830 kilograms of codeine, around 40 grams of heroin, 414 tramadol tablets/capsules, approximately 2.18 lakh tapentadol tablets and 1,200 pregabalin capsules.
A pistol was also recovered during the operation, along with ₹85.76 lakh in cash, police said.
The investigation also led to the recovery of 108 gold coins and around 17 grams of MMTC-PAMP gold and jewellery. Police estimated the combined value of the recovered gold and jewellery at ₹1,05,29,400.
Police further said that around ₹1.07 crore lying in multiple bank accounts allegedly linked to the network had been frozen as part of the financial investigation.
A residential house belonging to accused Mohammad Waseem Zargar was also attached. Police said two vehicles, a Maruti Brezza and a Suzuki Ertiga, allegedly connected with the network were also attached during the investigation.
The investigation has now been extended beyond Jammu and Kashmir, with police teams conducting follow-up operations in Chandigarh and Punjab. Punjab Police and the Narcotics Control Bureau have also assisted Srinagar Police in tracing the alleged supply chain.
Police are examining the transport agencies allegedly used to move the narcotics and are tracing the network’s distributors, financial beneficiaries and other forward and backward links.
According to police, three alleged associates, including persons from Uttar Pradesh, are currently absconding.
Police said further investigation is underway and more arrests and recoveries cannot be ruled out as officers continue to trace the wider network and its financial and logistical links.
