Mumbai:
Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officials arrested five men, including two from Jammu and
Kashmir, and seized 23kg of hashish worth Rs 1.15 crore in the international market and claimed to have busted an inter-state narcotics smuggling gang.
The state police had seized hashish originating from the Jammu and Kashmir in another operation two days ago.
Liyaqat Ali Bhat (20), Manzoor Ahmed Dar (26) (both residents of Jammu and Kashmir), Rasik Devraj (52), Prakash Soni (34) and Madhi Nadar (46) were arrested from neighbouring
Thane and the contraband was seized from their vehicle.
Yashodhan Wanage, Zonal director of NCB, said today that a trap had been laid on the night of January 10 and a Maruti 800 car was intercepted on January 11, at 1.30 am, near Hotel
Fountain.
"Upon search, it was found that packets containing balls of hashish were concealed in the rear seat of the car. The contraband and the vehicle with Rajasthan registration number
were seized," he added.
Hashish was brought from Srinagar to Thane by Bhat and Dar at the instructions of their handler in Kashmir and the entire quantity was to be sold here, the officer said.
"Bhat and Dar appear to have come to Thane for the first time. They were suppossed to reach here a few days ago. Since they did not know the route, it took them a few more days,"
the officer said.
In a different operation, Mumbai Police's Anti Narcotics Cell had on January 11 arrested one Nitin Chikne who allegedly smuggled 6.5 kg of hashish hidden in the empty CNG cylinders
of a car from Jammu and Kashmir.