Police bust major interstate drug racket in Anantnag; three arrested

· Police intercept narcotics shipment from Delhi, recover 413 bottles of Codeine
· Key figures remain at large as investigation expands

SRINAGAR: In a significant operation, police in Anantnag have dismantled a major interstate drug trafficking network, arresting three individuals involved in the illicit trade.
Acting on credible intelligence about a consignment of narcotic drugs being transported from Delhi to Srinagar, police established multiple checkpoints along the route, police said in a statement.
During their checks, a Toyota car was intercepted at Doonipora Bijbehara, with three persons onboard. The individuals have been identified as Monty Singh, a resident of Bulandshahr, UP, and Ashish Bardawaj and Rahul, both from Chhatarpur, New Delhi.
A search of the vehicle revealed 413 bottles of Codeine Phosphate (NRX), branded as Codril-T, concealed in the car’s door panels. All three accused have been arrested and taken to Police Station Bijbehara, where they remain in custody.
Further investigation indicated that the consignment was reportedly intended for delivery in Sopore and Srinagar. In response, police conducted multiple raids, leading to the detention of a local smuggler from Sopore for questioning. Collaboration with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in New Delhi also resulted in a raid at a warehouse in Noida’s Sector 135, where a substantial quantity of Codeine was recovered.
Key figures behind the racket, identified as Sachin Rana and Arun Rana, both residents of Faridabad, are still at large, and efforts to apprehend them are ongoing. This operation has uncovered both the forward and backward linkages of the interstate drug network, with further arrests expected as the investigation continues.