Srinagar: Police on Tuesday arrested an alleged inter-district drug smuggler and seized 2.613 kilograms of heroin, estimated to be worth around ₹20 crore in the international market, in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district, officials said.
The accused was intercepted during a routine vehicle checking drive at Halmulla in Anantnag district, where police stopped a suspicious car for inspection, they said.
During the search of the vehicle, police recovered four packets containing heroin, following which the driver was identified as Ishtiyak Ahmad Moghal, a resident of Prada area of Tangdar in Kupwara district, the officials said.
They said a case under the NDPS Act was registered at the concerned police station and investigation was launched.
During the investigation, the accused was served notice under Section 50 of the NDPS Act and his personal search was conducted as per the prescribed legal procedure, the officials said.
They said another packet containing heroin was recovered from his possession, taking the total seizure to 2.613 kilograms.
The accused has been arrested, while further investigation is underway to ascertain the source and intended destination of the contraband and to identify others involved in the alleged drug trafficking network, police said.