Poonch anti-drug op: Man held with heroin, ganja in J&K crackdown
Synopsis
J&K Police nabbed a Surankote resident with 8.52g of heroin and 16g of ganja on 5 October 2026 — the latest arrest in an intensifying Poonch-Rajouri anti-drug drive that combines joint Army-Police checkpoints, property seizures under the NDPS Act, and community outreach to choke off LoC-linked narcotics networks.
Key Takeaways
Asif Iqbal of Fazlabad, Surankote was arrested on 5 October 2026 after police recovered 8.52 grams of heroin and 16 grams of ganja from his possession.
324/2026 was registered under Sections 8, 20, 21 and 22 of the NDPS Act at Police Station Surankote .
Investigation is under way to trace the source, destination, and any associates in the alleged narcotics network.
J&K Police and the Indian Army run joint checkpoints on the Poonch-Rajouri highway to intercept cross-border contraband.
Authorities are also attaching and freezing properties of suspected traffickers under NDPS Act provisions.
Police in Jammu & Kashmir's Poonch district arrested one person and seized heroin and ganja on 5 October 2026, as part of a continuing crackdown on narcotic trafficking and substance abuse in the region. The arrest was made by personnel from Police Station Surankote following specific intelligence inputs during a search and checking operation.
The Seizure and Arrest
Acting on credible information during the evening hours of 5 October 2026, officers from Police Station Surankote recovered 8.52 grams of heroin and 16 grams of ganja from the possession of Asif Iqbal, son of Ashaq Hussain, a resident of Fazlabad, Surankote. The accused was taken into custody following the recovery of the contraband.
Police subsequently registered FIR No. 324/2026 under Sections 8, 20, 21 and 22 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at Police Station Surankote. Investigators are working to trace the source and intended destination of the seized substances and to identify any other individuals linked to the alleged narcotics network.
Broader Anti-Drug Campaign in Pir Panjal Region
The arrest is part of an intensified anti-narcotics drive across the Poonch and Rajouri districts in the Pir Panjal region. Security forces have focused on dismantling alleged narcotics networks that reportedly exploit the Line of Control (LoC) in the area to smuggle heroin and other psychotropic substances across the border.
Joint checkpoints operated by the J&K Police and the Indian Army routinely monitor vehicles along the Poonch-Rajouri highway and interior rural roads to intercept contraband movement. Notably, authorities have also invoked NDPS Act provisions to attach and freeze properties allegedly acquired through the drug trade — a step designed to target the financial underpinnings of trafficking networks rather than only individual carriers.
Community Outreach and Public Appeal
Alongside enforcement, District Police Poonch has been conducting anti-drug awareness rallies and community outreach programmes aimed particularly at discouraging substance abuse among youth. Authorities have urged the public to share credible information about drug-related activity with the nearest police station.
District Police reiterated its commitment to making Poonch drug-free and warned that stringent legal action would continue against anyone involved in the possession, transportation, sale, or distribution of narcotic substances. Investigation into the latest case remains under way, with officers seeking to map the full extent of the alleged supply chain.
Point of View
And enforcement alone — without addressing demand and the financial incentives of carriers — rarely disrupts the supply chain at scale. The NDPS Act property-attachment measures are a more meaningful pressure point, but their consistent application and outcomes are rarely reported. Whether this intensified campaign translates into a sustained reduction in trafficking, or cycles back to baseline once the operational focus shifts, is the question worth tracking.
NationPress
6 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested in the Poonch drug bust on 5 October 2026?
Asif Iqbal, son of Ashaq Hussain and a resident of Fazlabad, Surankote, was arrested after police recovered 8.52 grams of heroin and 16 grams of ganja from his possession during a search operation by Police Station Surankote.
What charges have been filed against the accused?
Police registered FIR No. 324/2026 under Sections 8, 20, 21 and 22 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at Police Station Surankote. The accused remains in custody while investigation continues.
Why is Poonch a focus of anti-drug operations in J&K?
Poonch and the neighbouring Rajouri district in the Pir Panjal region are considered vulnerable to cross-border narcotics smuggling through the Line of Control (LoC). Security forces have intensified operations in the area to dismantle networks allegedly using the LoC to move heroin and other psychotropic substances into J&K.
What broader measures are J&K Police taking against drug trafficking?
Beyond arrests, J&K Police and the Indian Army operate joint checkpoints on the Poonch-Rajouri highway and interior roads. Authorities are also attaching and freezing properties allegedly acquired through the drug trade under NDPS Act provisions, and conducting community awareness programmes to curb youth substance abuse.
What should members of the public do if they have information about drug activity?
District Police Poonch has urged residents to share credible information about drug-related activities with the nearest police station. Authorities say public cooperation is central to making the district drug-free.
