SRINAGAR — Srinagar Police have claimed to have busted an alleged inter-district narcotics and arms syndicate with the arrest of eight persons and the seizure of narcotics, a pistol, cash, gold and other assets in a case registered at Police Station Safakadal.
During a press conference in Srinagar, SSP Dr G.V. Sundeep said an FIR (135/2026) had been registered under Sections 8, 21, 22, 29 and 27A of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, Sections 3 and 4 of the Arms Act and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The arrested persons were 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.
According to the SSP, the operation led to the recovery of approximately 3.830 kg of codeine, 40 grams of heroin, 414 Tramadol-containing tablets and capsules, 21,850 Tapentadol tablets and 1,200 Pregabalin capsules.
Police also recovered a pistol from the accused, he said.
The investigation further led to the seizure of ₹85.76 lakh in cash, 108 gold coins valued at approximately ₹1.27 crore and 17 grams of MMT/PAP jewellery valued at around ₹2.54 lakh.
The police chief said ₹1.07 crore held in multiple bank accounts linked to the accused had also been frozen as part of the investigation into the alleged financial network associated with the syndicate.
A residential house belonging to alleged prime accused Mohammad Waseem Zargar at Patlipora, Chattabal, has also been attached, police said.
Two vehicles were also attached: a Maruti Brezza bearing registration number JK01AK-7523 and a Suzuki Ertiga bearing registration number JK01AX-4601.
The SSP said the total value of the attached properties and frozen financial assets, along with the other seizures, ran into several crores.
One more person, identified as Faizan Firdous Khanda of Malik Sahar, Safakadal, has been declared absconding, police said. Efforts are underway to apprehend him.
Sundeep said further investigation was in progress to establish the alleged syndicate’s forward and backward linkages and identify other persons who may be connected with the network.