Kulgam, Jan 01: Kulgam Police arrested 155 drug peddlers and attached properties worth Rs 15 crore in 2024 as part of their crackdown on drug trafficking across the district in 2024.
According to data released by Kulgam Police on Wednesday, 123 FIRs were registered against drug peddlers over the year. Contraband substances recovered from the accused were valued at approximately Rs 50 lakh.
The confiscated drugs included poppy straw (fukki), cannabis (bung powder/ganja), charas, brown sugar, heroin, and codeine-based cough syrups like Cofmaster and Corex.
Besides, 24 warrants under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT NDPS) Act were executed in the district, the data revealed.
The PIT NDPS Act is a stringent law that allows for the preventive detention of individuals involved in drug trafficking and related activities, targeting both individuals and their assets to curb the spread of illicit drug trade.
“Seventeen structures, with a market value of approximately Rs 15 crore, were attached as part of the anti-drug drive in the district,” the data reads.
Police arrest two drug peddlers in Pulwama, Handwara
Police on Wednesday arrested two suspected drug peddlers and seized a substantial quantity of contraband during their operations in Pulwama and Handwara.
In Pulwama, police officers from the Police Station Litter conducted a routine checkpoint near Peer Takiya when they noticed a suspicious individual attempting to flee. The quick response of the officers led to the apprehension of Mudasir Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Kulpur, a police spokesperson said in a statement.
“A thorough search revealed that he was in possession of nine lathis of a substance resembling charas. The contraband was confiscated, and a case has been registered under FIR No. 01/2025, invoking Sections 8 and 20 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Authorities are now investigating the origin of the seized drugs and potential connections to wider drug networks,” he said.
In Handwara, a police patrol in Devaspora Magam intercepted a suspicious individual identified as Zubair Sultan Lone, a resident of Khanbal Handwara. During the search, officers recovered 12 grams of heroin from his possession. “Lone was arrested, and a case has been registered at Police Station Handwara under relevant laws, with investigations currently underway,” the statement said.
Police have stressed the importance of community involvement in combating drug-related crimes. “Citizens are encouraged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities related to drug trafficking or abuse to their nearest police stations or by calling the emergency helpline 112,” the spokesperson said, adding, “The J&K Police remain committed to eradicating the menace of drugs to ensure the safety and well-being of their communities.”
