Srinagar, Sept 17 : The State Investigation Agency on Tuesday arrested a key narcotic smuggler who was wanted in a narco-terror case and was evading arrest for the last 3 years.

In a statement, issued to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the SIA the accused Zafraan Khan of Uri was apprehended from Kathua district and his arrest marks a severe blow to narco-terror module backed by Pakistani based terror handlers.

The statement reads that this module was involved in smuggling of narcotic substances through LoC Uri sector and subsequent transportation and sale in both the Kashmir valley and Jammu region.

“Sale proceeds of these narcotic substances were later channelised to sustain the waning terrorism in J&K. The arrest pertains to a case registered under FIR No. 13/2022, U/S 8/21,29 NDPS act 13, 17, 18, 38, 40 of UA(P) Act which pertains to the recovery of 01 kg Heroine, 07 Kg Poppy Straw and 04 Kg Poppy seeds. The charge sheet in this case has already been filed against 5 members of this module. This arrest would help SIA track forward and backward linkages in this case,” it reads.

It added that over the months, SIA Kashmir has intensified its crackdown against narco-terror networks across the Kashmir valley. “Just last week, another notorious terror handler Abdul Rashid Bhat who was absconding for more than 2 years was arrested from Pulwama. The results of these crackdown highlights the unrelenting efforts from SIA Kashmir in their quest towards dismantling the terror ecosystem,” it further reads—(KNO)