Sopore Police arrest 4 drug peddlers, seize 150 codeine bottles, capsules
Synopsis
Sopore Police pulled off a twin strike against Kashmir's pharmaceutical-drug pipeline — 150 codeine bottles off Badambagh's link roads, Spasmo-Proxyvon capsules off a night naka. Four arrests, two FIRs under the NDPS Act, and a clear signal that the 100-Day Nasha Mukt J&K Abhiyaan is moving from posters to prosecutions.
Key Takeaways
Sopore Police arrested four drug peddlers in two separate operations on 4 June .
Recoveries included 150 bottles of codeine-based syrup and Spasmo-Proxyvon Plus capsules.
Three accused — Irfan Ahmad Peer , Ajaz Ahmad Mattoo , Umer Zahoor Najar — were nabbed in Badambagh ; Majid Ashraf Khan was caught at Sangrama-Seer Crossing.
FIRs 132/2026 and 88/2026 have been registered under the NDPS Act at Police Stations Sopore and Tarzoo.
Operations form part of the ongoing 100-Day Nasha Mukt Jammu & Kashmir Abhiyaan .
Sopore Police in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday arrested four drug peddlers in two separate operations, recovering 150 bottles of codeine-based syrup and a cache of Spasmo-Proxyvon Plus capsules, officials said. The seizures form part of the ongoing 100-Day Nasha Mukt Jammu & Kashmir Abhiyaan, an intensified anti-narcotics drive across the Union Territory.
How the first operation unfolded
According to the police statement, a team from Police Station Sopore was patrolling the Badambagh area when it spotted three suspicious men carrying bags along a link road. The trio attempted to flee into nearby orchards on sighting the police but were apprehended after a brief chase.
A search yielded 150 bottles of codeine-based syrup, a habit-forming substance widely misused as a narcotic. The accused were identified as Irfan Ahmad Peer, Ajaz Ahmad Mattoo and Umer Zahoor Najar, all residents of Badambagh.
Second seizure at Sangrama-Seer Crossing
In a separate action, a naka party of Police Post Putkha conducting routine night checks at the Sangrama-Seer Crossing intercepted Majid Ashraf Khan, a resident of Peth Seer. Officers recovered Spasmo-Proxyvon Plus capsules — a prescription drug frequently abused for its opioid content — from his possession.
Cases registered under NDPS Act
Police have registered FIR No. 132/2026 under Sections 8, 22 and 29 of the NDPS Act at Police Station Sopore against the three Badambagh accused. A separate FIR No. 88/2026 under Sections 8 and 22 of the NDPS Act has been filed at Police Station Tarzoo in the second case. Investigators are working to map the source and onward distribution networks behind both consignments.
Part of a wider crackdown
The arrests come amid a sustained push by security agencies in Kashmir to dismantle pharmaceutical-drug trafficking pipelines that have increasingly targeted the Valley's youth. Codeine syrups and Spasmo-Proxyvon capsules have emerged as the most commonly intercepted contraband in recent months, replacing older opioid streams.
Officials reiterated a zero-tolerance policy against drug trafficking and appealed to residents to share information on suspected peddling. ‘The public is urged to cooperate with the police and share information regarding drug-related activities to help build a safer, healthier and drug-free society,' the officials said.
Further investigation in both cases is in progress, with police indicating that more arrests are likely as supply chains are traced.
Point of View
Street-level arrests like these will keep recurring without denting demand. The real test of the 100-Day Abhiyaan will be whether investigators move up the chain to the pharmaceutical sources, not just the last-mile carriers.
NationPress
20 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 100-Day Nasha Mukt Jammu & Kashmir Abhiyaan?
It is an intensified anti-drug campaign being run across Jammu and Kashmir to dismantle narcotics networks and curb substance abuse among youth. The latest Sopore arrests were carried out under this drive.
What was recovered from the four arrested drug peddlers?
Police recovered 150 bottles of codeine-based syrup from three accused in Badambagh and Spasmo-Proxyvon Plus capsules from a fourth accused intercepted at Sangrama-Seer Crossing. Both substances are commonly misused pharmaceutical opioids.
Under which sections of the NDPS Act have the cases been registered?
FIR No. 132/2026 has been registered under Sections 8, 22 and 29 of the NDPS Act at Police Station Sopore, while FIR No. 88/2026 has been registered under Sections 8 and 22 of the NDPS Act at Police Station Tarzoo.
Who are the accused arrested by Sopore Police?
The three accused in the Badambagh case are Irfan Ahmad Peer, Ajaz Ahmad Mattoo and Umer Zahoor Najar, all residents of Badambagh. The fourth, arrested at Sangrama-Seer Crossing, is Majid Ashraf Khan of Peth Seer.
What happens next in the investigation?
Investigators are working to trace the source of the seized consignments and identify the wider distribution network. Police have indicated that further arrests are likely as the supply chain is mapped.
