Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 21: A former Special Police Officer (SPO) turned inter-state smuggler and his associate were nabbed with heroin worth over Rs 56 crore in the international market from border district of Poonch late last evening.
One time associated with militancy, ex-cop Mohd Rafi, son of Sher Mohd, resident of Danna Duiyan village, near the LoC in Mandi tehsil of district Poonch, later worked as informer with the security agencies of the area was then engaged as SPO. But due to indiscipline and his involvement in some criminal activities, he was disengaged from the police job.
SSP Poonch, Jatinder Singh Johar told the Excelsior that it was at around 6.45 pm on Saturday when a police party led by DySP, Sagar Singh Slathia and SHO Rakesh Akram intercepted a Tata Mobile vehicle bearing registration No. JK-12/1652 at Kalai bridge. The vehicle was on way to Poonch city from Surankote side. The police party signaled the vehicle but the occupants tried to fled. It was darkness and the alert police men trained guns on the driver and his associate and asked them to come out of the vehicle.
The police had already some information regarding smuggling of narcotics. During the extensive search of the vehicle, the police party found 54 packets of high quality heroin. They had concealed the consignment under the other goods. The driver told police that some karyana items were being carried to Poonch to give slip to police party.
Both the accused Ex-SPO Mohd Rafi and driver Shakeel Ahmed, son of Faiz Mohammed, resident Danna in Mandi were arrested and the vehicle along with narcotics seized. They were taken to Police Station Poonch and placed under sustained interrogation. The SSP Mr Johar, ASP Amit Gupta and other senior police officers started grilling of the alleged smugglers. It was discovered that this consignment had arrived this side from Pak occupied Kashmir via LoC. They had to deliver this consignment in parts from Poonch to Mumbai and Delhi. The police was trying to establish identity of the local courier of the inter-state smuggling racket. The police said that Mohd Rafi is an important member of this inter-state racket of smugglers and the district police was after him for the last several months.
The SSP further said that a case FIR No. 177/2014 under NDPS Act was registered against the arrested smugglers. He said two FIRs ( No. 14/ 2012 and 73/2012) were already registered against the former SPO Mohd Rafi. He had been disengaged from the job about two and half years back after being involved in some criminal cases. From the clue established during interrogation, it is hoped that some more people will be arrested soon, Mr Singh added.
Follow our WhatsApp channel