In a major crackdown on drug trafficking, four inter-state narcotics smugglers have been arrested in Jammu, with authorities seizing approximately 10 kg of cannabis in a significant blow to the drug trade.
Four inter-state narcotics smugglers were arrested and around 10 kg of cannabis worth over Rs 30 lakh was seized by the anti narcotics task force in outskirts of Jammu city on Wednesday, officials said.
The arrests were made during an ongoing crackdown against drug trafficking when a cab carrying the accused was intercepted on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway near IIM at Nagrota, they said.
Acting on specific intelligence inputs, the ANTF team intercepted the vehicle and conducted a thorough search following due legal procedures, they said.
During the checking, a large consignment of high-grade cannabis weighing approximately 10 kg was recovered from the possession of the occupants, who were immediately taken into custody.
The arrested accused have been identified as Amar Chand, a resident of Ramban district, Sachin Verma and Vijay Verma, both residents of Gonda district in Uttar Pradesh and Aakash Ramsuhel Verma, a resident of Surat city in Gujarat.
Preliminary investigation suggests that the accused were part of an inter-state narcotics syndicate involved in drug trafficking, with links extending beyond Jammu and Kashmir, they said.
The seized consignment is suspected to have been sourced from Ramban and was intended for distribution in Mumbai, officials said.
A case under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has been registered at Police Station in Jammu, they said.
Further investigation is underway to identify and apprehend other members of the network, including forward and backward linkages, they added.