Say accused sold 630 Kg heroin worth approx Rs 792 crores
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 15: In a major breakthrough, Jammu and Kashmir Police have uncovered the cross-border links of notorious drug kingpin Gulzar Ahmad alias Lau Gujjar arrested earlier this month, revealing his connections extending from Jammu to Punjab and Pakistan.
Police have also claimed that the accused has so far sold nearly 360 kilograms of heroin, estimated to be worth around Rs 792 crore in the international market.
“By this means, Lau Gujjar has accumulated assets worth several crores at multiple locations,” a statement issued by the police said.
The police probe has also uncovered credible evidence of his involvement in an organized narco-terror network, with heroin consignments allegedly being sourced from across the border through drone drops.
Meanwhile, during sustained interrogation, police said the accused has also disclosed that he used to procure the heroin from contacts in Punjab.
He has also revealed that his brother-in-law acted as a close associate in the network and allegedly sourced drugs from Pakistan through his father, who is stated to be operating from across the border.
Police said such consignments were routed through Punjab, particularly the Kartarpur area, from where the accused would collect the contraband and distribute it across his inter-state network.
Meanwhile, police said they have intensified their crackdown on the syndicate, arresting three persons so far and detaining 8-10 others for questioning over their suspected links with the network.
Around 20-25 more identified individuals, including drug peddlers, are also under constant surveillance as part of efforts to dismantle the entire network.
Addressing media persons at District Police Lines (DPL) Jammu, SSP Jammu Joginder Singh said that the investigation into the case is progressing on multiple fronts.
“Three persons have been arrested, 8-10 detained for questioning, while 20-25 others are being closely tracked to neutralise the network completely,” he said.
The SSP said that following the arrest of Lau Gujjar earlier this month, police have recovered over 700 grams of heroin and a Pakistan-made Glock pistol from his possession.
He said the cross-border and narco-terror angles are now part of the core investigation.
According to him, a Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by SP Headquarters and comprising DySP RS Pura, SHOs of Miran Sahib and Bishnah Police Stations, along with other police teams, has been constituted to probe the case.
The investigation is further being supported by SP Operations, Crime Response Team (CRT), District Special Branch (DSB), CAPFs, Army, BSF and local intelligence inputs.
Detailing the criminal background of the accused, the SSP said Lau Gujjar initially got involved in criminal activities in 2006, shifted to minor drug-related activities in 2016, and by 2019 had emerged as a major drug kingpin.
He said police records show that he is involved in 27 cases in Jammu district and around 100 FIRs in other districts and States, as per CCTNS data and intelligence inputs.
He said the accused has allegedly supplied quintals of drugs within and outside the Union Territory, with links extending to Punjab and other States.
“All angles, including Punjab links, inter-State connections, Pakistan link and narco-terrorism aspects, are being thoroughly investigated,” he said.
The SSP added that police are also probing incidents of cross-border drug consignments dropped in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab, in coordination with Punjab Police, to establish a larger network and identify all those involved.
Highlighting the broader anti-drug campaign in Jammu district, he said that 103 FIRs have been registered till April 14 this year, including 9 cases involving commercial quantity of heroin.
He added that around 11 kilograms of heroin, along with a large quantity of poppy straw and capsules, has been recovered in various operations.
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