Four drug peddlers arrested in J&K; Heroin seized, cross-border links suspected

In a continued crackdown on narcotics, police in Jammu and Kashmir arrested four alleged drug peddlers in separate operations across Jammu and Udhampur districts on Sunday, recovering heroin and raising concerns over possible cross-border smuggling networks.

In Jammu, three suspects Mohit Sharma, Ankit Mahajan, and Ankit Bhat were intercepted at Muthi in the Domana area during a routine check. Upon searching them, police recovered 7.21 grams of heroin . A private vehicle believed to have been used for transporting the contraband was also seized.

In a parallel operation in Udhampur district , police apprehended Ishfaq Ahmed in the Tikri area along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway . He was allegedly involved in inter-district drug trafficking, and 5.16 grams of heroin was recovered from his possession.

Officials said preliminary investigations are examining whether the seized narcotics have links to cross-border smuggling routes , a persistent challenge in the region due to its proximity to the international border. Security agencies have often flagged the use of cross-border networks to funnel drugs into Jammu and Kashmir, which are then distributed through local modules.

Two separate cases have been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act , and further investigations are underway to uncover the broader supply chain and any external connections.

Police reiterated their commitment to dismantling drug networks and curbing the inflow of narcotics into the Union Territory.