In a significant anti-drug operation in Jammu and Kashmir, police apprehended three suspected drug peddlers, including a 17-year-old boy, on Monday. The authorities took action in the Samba and Kathua districts amid rising concerns over drug trafficking in the region.
The police spokesperson reported that the teenager was stopped late Sunday evening while riding a motorcycle from Balole Khad towards JDA Colony in Bari Brahmana, Samba district.
During the checks, law enforcement retrieved 3.36 grams of heroin from him. The young suspect faces serious allegations under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
The police have already registered a case against the minor. Following an initial inquiry, authorities presented him before a competent authority, which subsequently ordered his placement in the Observation Home at R S Pura, Jammu.
In a separate incident in Kathua district, police arrested two additional narcotic smugglers on the same night. The officers seized 23 grams of heroin from their possession during a checking operation in Galak, located in the Billawar area.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Pawan Dev Singh from Majalta (Udhampur) and Naresh Singh from Makwal-Ramkot (Kathua). They now face legal actions under the NDPS Act as well.
Authorities continue to ramp up efforts against drug trafficking as Jammu and Kashmir faces a serious challenge with substance abuse and illicit drug trade.
Statistics from the Jammu and Kashmir police indicate a concerning rise in drug-related arrests, prompting officials to call for more community engagement in reporting suspicious activities. Police urge the public to remain vigilant as they combat this growing crisis.