Police Claims To Arrest Three Drug Smugglers in Awantipora With 400 Kgs Poppy Straw

Awantipora 25 February (KNB): Awantipora police on Thursday claimed to have arrested three drug smugglers, among whom two were non-locals and another one local, during vehicular checking at Naka point in South Kashmir’s Awantipora area and recovered 400 Kgs of poppy straw from their possession.

Police said in its statement that one vehicle (dumper) was signaled to stop but instead of stopping the vehicle fled away. Later police chased the dumper and stopped it at some distance from naka check point.

During a search of the dumper vehicle, 400 Kgs of poppy straw was recovered and seized by the police party, which was concealed in 20 large bags kept inside the space specially created in the body of the dumper, the statement read.

The police said that the camouflaged space created for the transport of consignment was difficult to find out until checked thoroughly by the Police Party. 

However, three drug smugglers, which police claim to have been arrested, were identified as Mohammad Mushtaq and Mustafa both residents of Kuthala Ferozpur Sangroor Punjab. While another arrested was named as Umer Farooq Wani resident of Budriwan Pulwama.

The vehicle in which Poppy was being carried bore registration number JK19 -1210, which according to police was seized. 

The police later registered the Case with FIR Number 27/2021 under relevant sections of NDPS at Police Station Awantipora.

Police further said in its statement that upon preliminary investigation the consignment was being carried out of Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory. (KNB)