Crackdown on drug peddllers’ financial backbone, Rs 21 lakh seized: SP South
STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: In a major offensive against the narcotics ecosystem, Jammu Police, South Zone, have intensified their crackdown not only on drug peddlers but also on the financial networks sustaining the illegal trade, resulting in the seizure of large sums of illicit money and freezing of suspicious bank accounts.
Addressing a press conference at Police Station Bahu Fort, Senior Superintendent of Police (SP) South Jammu, Dr Ajay Sharma, along with SDPO East, SHO PS Bahu Fort, SHO PS Bagh-e-Bahu and ICPP Narwal, detailed the sustained and decisive action taken to dismantle the entrenched drug network operating in Rajiv Nagar, Bahu Fort, Bagh-e-Bahu and adjoining areas, which had earlier gained notoriety for narcotics-related activities.
“Our focus is not limited to recovery of drugs and arrest of peddlers. We are systematically choking their financial lifelines by identifying, seizing and attaching proceeds of crime,” Dr Ajay Sharma said.
He stated that since 2025, intensified surveillance, strengthening of source networks and round-the-clock vigil in vulnerable pockets have led to 27 FIRs under the NDPS Act, arrest of 41 accused, recovery of 1 kg 238 grams of heroin and 18 kg of ganja, demolition of 11 houses of drug peddlers through the civil administration, freezing of three bank accounts involving Rs 1.8 lakh, attachment of one vehicle, and seizure of approximately Rs 25 lakh as proceeds of crime.
Highlighting a major recent breakthrough, the SP said that in FIR No. 265/2025, Police Station Bahu Fort arrested Pal Singh, son of Roshan Singh, resident of Narwal Bala, a habitual offender with two previous NDPS cases, and recovered 265 grams of heroin. Investigation into financial linkages revealed that Pal Singh, through his son Arun Singh, had paid an advance of Rs 21 lakh for a property deal. Following court permission, police searched the residence of the recipient, Netar Singh Sodhi, and seized the entire Rs 21 lakh, establishing it as proceeds of drug trafficking.
In another case, Police Station Bagh-e-Bahu arrested Arun Singh alias Kana on 14th January 2026 with approximately 5-6 grams of heroin along with a digital weighing machine. Accordingly, FIR No. 02/2026 under relevant sections of the NDPS Act was registered.
During the course of investigation, the accused disclosed the names of around 20 persons who are in his close circle.
Consequently, notices under Sections 35 and 94 of the BNSS were issued to these individuals, their family members and requisite details were obtained.
“Based on the credentials collected, written communications were sent to the commercial banks operating in Jammu district. Scrutiny of bank responses revealed several accounts exhibiting suspicious financial activity. Notably, 5-6 accounts were found to be highly suspicious, showing annual transactions exceeding Rs 50 lakhs, and in some cases even Rs 1 crore,” Dr Sharma said.
Further verification revealed that some of these accounts are maintained outside the Union Territory, particularly in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, indicating inter-state financial transactions and further investigation is going on to ascertain the linkages with the accused in the said case.
Reiterating a zero-tolerance policy, SP Ajay Sharma said Jammu Police will continue to pursue forward and backward linkages, especially financial trails, warning that more seizures and legal action are imminent.
He also appealed to the public to cooperate by sharing credible information and supporting law enforcement efforts, asserting that the war against drugs can be won only through collective action.
