Key accused held in Handwara drugs case

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 17

The National Investigating Agency (NIA) has arrested the key accused in the Handwara drug racket case.

A spokesperson of the agency said Afaq Ahmad Wani of Maratgam, Handwara, was arrested from Srinagar in connection with the drugs case pertaining to the seizure of 21 kg of heroin and cash worth Rs 1,35,89,850 from members of the drugs syndicate operating in J&K.

Last month, the J&K police in north Kashmir’s Handwara sub-district had claimed to have busted a Pakistan-sponsored narco-terror module by arresting three Lashkar-e-Toiba militant associates and seizing 21 kg of heroin worth Rs 100 crore. The police had also recovered nearly Rs 1 crore from the trio. Those arrested by the police were Abdul Momin Peer of New Colony Bemina, Srinagar, Iftiqar Andrabi Laribal, Rajwara and Peer Islam-ul-Haq of Waskoora, Handwara.

The NIA had taken over the case on June 23

Investigation by the NIA has so far revealed that the accused were smuggling drugs and psychotropic substances in huge quantities through the LoC.

“The proceeds of the sale were used to finance the activities of terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba operating in the Valley,” the NIA spokesperson said.

He said accused Afaq Ahmad Wani, who was working as branch manager at Baramulla Central Cooperative Bank, Handwara branch, was absconding since June 11.

“He was located and arrested from his hideout in Srinagar on Thursday. Earlier, Rs 30,30,000 and heroin weighing 3.200 kg was seized from his house at Handwara,” the spokesperson of the NIA said.

He was produced before an NIA special court in Jammu today and 12-day NIA remand has been taken for his custodial interrogation.