From Pakistan to Punjab: NCB uncovers two heroin supply channels into J&K
A major narcotics crackdown in Jammu & Kashmir has exposed how heroin consignments are allegedly entering the region through both the Pakistan border and the Punjab corridor, with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) seizing 6.920 kg in a month.
A sustained intelligence-led offensive by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Jammu Zonal Unit has exposed two distinct routes being used to push Heroin into Jammu & Kashmir—directly from Pakistan through the Uri sector and indirectly through Punjab, said a NCB officer on Saturday.
In four Heroin interceptions in the Jammu Division within about a month, along with a linked follow-up recovery in Punjab, NCB has seized a cumulative 6.920 kg of Heroin. Significantly, two of these operations were conducted inside drug-affected ‘bastis’, taking enforcement action directly into vulnerable pockets being exploited for drug trafficking.
In the latest operation on 3 September, NCB intercepted a passenger bus near New Bus Stand, Samba, and recovered 522 grams of heroin from Aqib Bashir, resident of Kakapora, Pulwama, J&K.
NCB immediately pursued the backward linkage of the consignment. The trail led to Ludhiana, Punjab, where a separate follow-up operation resulted in the recovery of another 197 grams of Heroin.
The linked Samba–Ludhiana operation has thus resulted in seizure of 719 grams of Heroin so far, while further investigation is underway to identify and apprehend other persons connected with the supply, transportation and intended distribution of the consignment.
The Punjab trail comes close on the heels of another major NCB Jammu operation involving seizure of 5.160 kg of heroin.
Investigation in that case indicated that the consignment had originated from Pakistan and entered J&K through the Uri sector. NCB pursued the trail beyond the point of seizure up to Leh, where the alleged supplier was apprehended.
The two investigations have exposed two different supply channels feeding Heroin into the region—one originating across the Pakistan border and another operating through the Punjab–J&K corridor, said the NCB.
As part of the same sustained offensive, NCB conducted two separate operations inside drug-affected localities in the Jammu/Samba belt, recovering 438 grams and 603 grams of heroin respectively.
Together with the 5.160 kg Jammu seizure and the latest 522 gram Samba seizure followed by the 197 gram Ludhiana recovery, the operations have resulted in a cumulative seizure of 6.920 kg of Heroin.
NCB’s strategy is focused not merely on intercepting drugs or apprehending carriers. Every consignment is being pursued backwards towards its source, forwards towards its intended recipients and through its financial trail, with the objective of identifying and dismantling the entire trafficking chain, NCB added.