Anantnag Police arrests 5 drug peddlers, seizes 5.9 kg narcotics in crackdown
Synopsis
Anantnag Police ran simultaneous anti-narcotics raids across five locations on Saturday, netting five alleged peddlers and nearly 6 kg of contraband. One accused alone was carrying over 5.78 kg of charas — the single largest haul in the sweep — signalling police are breaking into higher-volume supply chains, not just street-level distribution.
Key Takeaways
Anantnag Police arrested five alleged drug peddlers on 17 October 2026 across multiple operations.
Total seizure: 5.9 kg of narcotic substances , including charas, charas-like substance, and ganja-like substance.
Largest single haul: 5 kg 780 grams of charas powder recovered from Shahnawaz Ahmad Ganie at Hatigam Crossing.
Four FIRs registered under Sections 8/20 of the NDPS Act ; a fifth case filed under relevant law at Police Station Dooru.
Operations spanned Srigufwara, Kokernag, Dooru, Sangam , and Bijbehara police jurisdictions.
Investigations into all five cases are ongoing; further arrests have not been ruled out.
Jammu & Kashmir Police in Anantnag district arrested five alleged drug peddlers and recovered 5.9 kg of narcotic substances across multiple anti-narcotics operations on Saturday, 17 October 2026. The operations, conducted by personnel from several police stations across the district, resulted in the seizure of charas, charas-like substances, and ganja-like material.
Key Arrests and Seizures
The largest single seizure came during a naka checking operation at Hatigam Crossing, where Police Station Srigufwara apprehended Shahnawaz Ahmad Ganie, resident of Sirhama. A search of the accused yielded 5 kg and 780 grams of charas powder. An FIR — bearing No. 103/2026 under Sections 8/20 of the NDPS Act — has been registered at Police Station Srigufwara.
In the Kokernag–Bider area, a patrol party arrested Tanveer Ahmad Sheikh, resident of Nala Sunbahri, Magam, recovering approximately 18 grams of a charas-like substance. FIR No. 172/2026 under the same provisions has been filed. Separately, at Hiller Arhama, Kokernag, Rayees Ahmad Ganie, resident of Shelipora, Achabal, was held with approximately 40 grams of a charas-like substance. FIR No. 173/2026 has been registered at Police Station Kokernag.
During routine patrolling in the Pollie area, Dooru Police detained Amir Ahmad Najar, resident of Kapran, and recovered approximately 90 grams of charas. A case under relevant provisions of law has been registered at Police Station Dooru, with investigation underway.
In a fifth operation, personnel from Police Post Sangam apprehended Sahil Rashid Sheikh, resident of Charsoo, Awantipora, during patrolling in the Sangam area. Approximately 1.78 kg of a ganja-like substance was found in his bag. FIR No. 308/2026 under Sections 8/20 of the NDPS Act has been lodged at Police Station Bijbehara.
The Broader Anti-Narcotics Drive
According to the police statement, the operations reflect an intensified push to dismantle drug trafficking networks across Anantnag. The coordinated nature of Saturday's raids — spanning Srigufwara, Kokernag, Dooru, Sangam, and Bijbehara — suggests a district-wide strategy rather than isolated interceptions. This comes amid growing concern over narcotics proliferation in Jammu & Kashmir, with law enforcement agencies in the region reporting a rising frequency of seizures in recent months.
Notably, the largest haul — the 5.78 kg charas seizure from Shahnawaz Ahmad Ganie — accounts for nearly 98% of the total recovered weight in Saturday's operations, pointing to at least one high-volume supply pipeline that police say they have now disrupted.
What Authorities Said
In an official statement, Anantnag Police said it was 'reaffirming its commitment to eradicating the drug menace' and pledged to 'dismantle drug trafficking networks and take strict legal action against those involved in the narcotics trade.' All five accused have been booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and investigations in each case are ongoing.
What Happens Next
Further investigation into the five registered FIRs is underway, and authorities have not ruled out additional arrests as the probe expands. Police in Anantnag have signalled that anti-narcotics operations will continue across the district, with enhanced naka checking and patrolling maintaining pressure on suspected supply routes.
Point of View
Not a street courier, was intercepted. The challenge for Anantnag Police is whether the FIRs lead upstream to suppliers, or whether the investigations, as is common in NDPS cases, stop at the carrier. Kashmir's drug problem has migrated in recent years from opium-belt proximity to cross-border charas and pharmaceutical diversion; a district-wide coordinated operation is the right response, but its durability depends on prosecution rates, not arrest tallies.
NationPress
17 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many drug peddlers did Anantnag Police arrest on 17 October 2026?
Anantnag Police arrested five alleged drug peddlers on 17 October 2026 across multiple operations spanning Srigufwara, Kokernag, Dooru, Sangam, and Bijbehara. A total of 5.9 kg of narcotic substances was recovered from the accused.
What drugs were recovered in the Anantnag narcotics crackdown?
Police recovered charas, charas-like substances, and a ganja-like substance in the five operations. The largest seizure was 5 kg and 780 grams of charas powder from a single accused at Hatigam Crossing, which accounted for the bulk of the total haul.
Under which law have the accused been charged?
Four of the five accused have been booked under Sections 8/20 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, with FIRs registered at the respective police stations. The fifth case has been filed under relevant provisions of law at Police Station Dooru.
Who was carrying the largest quantity of narcotics?
Shahnawaz Ahmad Ganie, a resident of Sirhama, was apprehended at Hatigam Crossing during a naka checking operation with 5 kg and 780 grams of charas powder — the single biggest seizure in Saturday's operations. FIR No. 103/2026 has been registered against him at Police Station Srigufwara.
Will there be more arrests following the Anantnag drug bust?
Investigations into all five registered cases are ongoing, and Anantnag Police have indicated that anti-narcotics operations across the district will continue. Authorities have not ruled out further arrests as the probe expands into the supply networks behind these seizures.
