Pak pushed heroin into JK through Uri & Punjab: NCB

Jammu;
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has exposed two heroin supply routes from Pakistan to Jammu and Kashmir through Uri on the LoC in Baramulla and Punjab, said officials on Saturday.
“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 an official spokesperson.
In four heroin interceptions in the Jammu within a month, along with a linked follow-up recovery in Punjab, the NCB has seized a cumulative 6.920 kg of heroin, he added.
Significantly, two of these operations were conducted inside drug-affected ‘Bastis’ (clusters), taking enforcement action directly into vulnerable pockets being exploited for drug trafficking.
The latest Samba seizure has led the NCB to Ludhiana
“In the latest operation on September 3, the NCB sleuths intercepted a passenger bus near new bus stand in Samba, and recovered 522 grams of heroin from one Aqib Bashir, a resident of Kakapora in Pulwama district of Kashmir,” said the spokesperson.
The NCB immediately pursued the backward linkage of the consignment.
“The trail led to Ludhiana in Punjab, where a separate follow-up operation resulted in the recovery of another 197 grams of heroin”, he said.
The 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 peddlers connected with the supply, transportation and intended distribution of the consignment, he informed.

Earlier 5.160 kg haul exposed Pakistan–Uri route

The Punjab trail comes close on the heels of another major NCB Jammu operation involving the seizure of 5.160 kg of heroin.
“Investigation in the case indicated that the consignment had originated from Pakistan and entered J&K through the Uri sector,” said the spokesperson.
The NCB pursued the trail beyond the point of seizure up to Leh, where the alleged supplier was apprehended.
“The two investigations have, therefore, exposed two different supply channels smuggling heroin into the region—one originating across the Pakistan border and another operating through the Punjab–J&K corridor,” he said.
As part of the same sustained offensive, the NCB conducted two separate operations inside drug-affected ‘Bastis’ (slums) 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.
“From seizure to the entire network, the 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,” he said.
The Pakistan–Uri trail pursued up to Leh and the latest Samba trail pursued backwards into Ludhiana demonstrates this approach.
The spokesperson informed that further investigation was underway to identify the source, intended recipients, financiers and other associates of these networks and to trace their wider interstate and cross-border linkages.
The NCB has appealed to the public to join the fight against drug trafficking and pass on the information relating to the sale, storage, transportation or trafficking of narcotic drug on the MANAS national narcotics helpline number 1933.