Massive blow to narcotics trade

A major financial blow has been dealt to narcotics traffickers operating in and around Himachal Pradesh, as the Sirmaur police have successfully seized and frozen illegal assets worth Rs 2.19 crore in three separate drug trafficking cases. This includes property worth Rs 54 lakh attached during a financial investigation following the arrest of two interstate drug peddlers in February 2024.

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The recovery stems from an intelligence-based operation carried out by the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of the district police. In February 2024, SIU officials received confidential information that two individuals — Shoaib Khan and Saqib Shah, residents of Jeevangarh, Nikas Nagar tehsil of Uttarakhand — were approaching Mahruwala to sell chitta (heroin). Acting promptly, the police team intercepted the suspects at the Budhi Road–Mahruwala Road junction. A legal search led to the recovery of 323 grams of heroin from their possession.

Based on the seizure, an FIR was registered at Police Station Puruwala in February 2025 under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. As the quantity recovered was of commercial level and the case involved inter-state drug trafficking, the matter was escalated for financial investigation under Chapter V-A of the NDPS Act, which empowers law enforcement to identify and seize properties acquired through illicit drug trade.

A Special Investigation Team was formed under the supervision of DSP (Headquarters) Ramakant Thakur. The team conducted a meticulous investigation tracing illegally acquired property not only of the accused but also of their close relatives. Properties belonging to Shamshada (wife of Salim Khan), Kaushar (son of Salim Khan), Asameen (wife of Kaushar) and Shabnam (daughter of Salim Khan), all from Jeevangarh, were identified. Upon detailed documentation, a proposal was submitted to the Competent Authority in New Delhi, which later approved the freezing and seizure of assets.

This recovery adds to earlier successful seizures in the district, with Rs 95 lakh and Rs. 70 lakh worth of cash and property seized in two prior NDPS cases. The total now stands at Rs 2.19 crore, marking a significant milestone in the district’s efforts to disrupt the economic network of drug traffickers.

In a parallel offensive, Sirmaur Police also invoked the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (PIT-NDPS Act) against habitual offenders. This special law allows the detention of repeat offenders to prevent them from continuing involvement in the illicit drug trade. Four individuals — Sanjay Kumar alias Sanju (Devi Nagar, Paonta Sahib), Babli alias Baby and Suresh Kumar (village Salani, Nahan), and Shokat Ali (Misrawala, Paonta Sahib) — have been detained and lodged at Adarsh Central Jail, Nahan for three months.

Commenting on the development, Sirmaur SP Nishchint Singh Negi said: “This is not just a fight against drug suppliers, but against the drug economy. Our focus is on arresting, prosecuting and financially crippling every link in the chain. The seizure of such a large sum reflects our determination to target the roots of narcotics crime.”