Sopore, June 24 (KNS): Continuing its crackdown on the narcotics trade in north Kashmir, Sopore Police have detained five "notorious" drug peddlers under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act and lodged them in prisons outside the Valley, officials said on Wednesday.
The detenues have been identified as Adil Ahmad Buda of Shair Colony, Mohammad Ramzan Gojri of Hygam, Suhail Ahmad Zargar of Behrampora, Majid Ashraf Khan of Peth Seer, and Nasir Yousuf Shah @ Bada Aanta of Neharpora, a police spokesman said.
While Buda and Shah have been lodged in District Jail Bhadarwah, the remaining three have been sent to Central Jail Kot Bhalwal, Jammu, he added.
The spokesman said the five were "habitual offenders" with multiple NDPS cases registered against them. "Despite previous legal action, they continued their criminal activities and posed a grave threat to society, especially the youth," he said.
Detailed dossiers were prepared by Sopore Police and submitted to the competent authority, which subsequently issued detention orders under the PIT-NDPS Act, the spokesman informed.
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The action is part of the ongoing Nasha Mukt Jammu & Kashmir Abhiyaan and Sopore Police's sustained strategy to dismantle the narcotics ecosystem by targeting repeat offenders, officials said.
With these five detentions, Sopore Police have so far booked 13 repeat drug offenders under the PIT-NDPS Act during the current anti-drug drive, the spokesman said.
He further disclosed that 17 more repeat offenders involved in drug trafficking have been identified, and their dossiers are presently under preparation for similar preventive action.
Reiterating its zero-tolerance policy against drug trafficking and substance abuse, Sopore Police appealed to the public to cooperate in the drive and reaffirmed its commitment to stringent legal action against all those involved in the narcotics trade.
The force remains dedicated to safeguarding youth and building a healthier, safer, and drug-free society under the Nasha Mukt Abhiyaan, the spokesman added. (KNS)