NIA recovers Rs 91 lakhs as drug proceeds in Handwara

SRINAGAR — National Investigation Agency (NIA) has claimed to recover proceeds of narcotics to the tune of Rs. 91 lakhs in cash in Handwara narco-terrorism case.

In a statement, the probe agency NIA said, “The case was initially registered under FIR No. 183/2020 dated 11.06.2020 at Police Station in north Kashmir’s Handwara, wherein during checking of vehicles at Kairo Bridge, Handwara, accused Abdul Momin Peer’s Hyundai Creta vehicle was intercepted by police and during search Rs. 20 lakhs along with two kilograms of Heroin was recovered after NIA had re-registered the case as RC-03/2020/NIA/JMU on 23.06.2020 and taken up the investigation”.

The statement said, “Recently, NIA had arrested five accused persons from Srinagar and Jammu on Mar 01 and had taken them on remand for 15 days. Based upon examination and disclosure of arrested accused persons, NIA conducted searches and recovered proceeds of narcotics smuggling to the tune of 91 lakhs. The amount was found concealed in a field in village Gurwal, area of Samba, district.”

”Investigation revealed that arrested accused Romesh Kumar had received the cash proceeds of drugs from narco-smugglers based in Kashmir valley for self as well as for further channelization to different militant entities,” reads the statement.

NIA has said that the further investigation in the case continues.