Man, son caught selling illegal drugs; 572 intoxicants seized

In a major crackdown on illegal drug trafficking, the Health Department, with police assistance, apprehended a man and his son for selling narcotic drugs without a licence in Salooni. The accused, Ashik Mohammad and his father Zakir Hussain, were found running an unauthorised medical store and engaging in the illegal sale of intoxicating medicines.

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During a raid in Dhutta village under Salooni tehsil, authorities seized 572 narcotic capsules, four injections, and 176 medical pregnancy termination kits, along with 43 different types of allopathic medicines worth approximately Rs 1.88 lakh. Some drugs were hidden not only in their shop but also in their house and even in a cowshed.

The investigation began after numerous empty wrappers of intoxicating medicines were found near a government school and college in the area. Suspecting illegal drug sales, the Health Department initiated an inquiry and issued notices to several pharmaceutical companies. Upon analysing purchasing records, Ashik Mohammad and Zakir Hussain emerged as key buyers.

A joint team of the department and the Anti-Human Trafficking (AHT) unit of the district police conducted a surprise raid, recovering 305 capsules of Pregabalin, 130 tablets of Tapentadol, 128 tablets of Alprazolam, nine tablets of Etizolam, and four injections of Tramadol. The officials also confiscated 176 pregnancy termination kits.

Authorities revealed that in February, notices were sent to medicine manufacturers and suppliers in Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat, and Himachal Pradesh to track the sale of intoxicating drugs in Chamba. The recent raid was part of an ongoing investigation after empty Pregabalin strips were found near a school in Diur village last month — the same drugs later recovered from Ashik Mohammad’s residence.

Assistant State Drug Controller Nishant Sareen stated that the crackdown has exposed a well-established illegal drug distribution network. Legal proceedings against the accused are underway, with officials vowing strict action to curb the illicit trade. Further investigations are ongoing, and more individuals involved in the operation are under scrutiny.

The authorities have issued a seven-day notice to Ashik Mohammad for an official response. Meanwhile, the department affirmed that stringent measures will continue to dismantle the illegal drug supply chain in Chamba.