Srinagar, 24 December (H.S.): In a major breakthrough against cross-border drug trafficking, Hiranagar Police have busted a Pakistan-based heroin smuggling network operating through drones and arrested the fifth accused in the case.

The arrest marks a significant step in dismantling the narco-module active along the international border in Kathua district.

Official sources said, Acting on specific inputs and under the supervision of SSP Kathua Mohit Sharma, IPS, police arrested Siraj Din alias Saraju, son of Ali Hussain, a resident of Bishnah, Jammu. During the arrest, police recovered 25 grams of heroin, a sharp-edged weapon (toka), and three pistol rounds from his possession.

The arrest is linked to FIR No. 107/25, registered after around 400 grams of heroin dropped by a drone from Pakistan was recovered earlier from village Chhann Tanda near the border.

The investigation is being led by SP (Operations) Kathua Mukund Tibrewal, DSP Border Dheeraj Katoch, and SHO Hiranagar Ashish. So far, four other accused from Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab have already been arrested in the case, with police recovering ₹5 lakh in cash and 414 grams of heroin from them.

Police said Siraj Din was acting as the main receiver and street-level distributor of the drugs. Following his arrest, multiple raids have been launched at his suspected locations to trace further links in the network.

SSP Mohit Sharma said Kathua Police are committed to eliminating the drug menace and will not tolerate any involvement in narco-trafficking. He appealed to the public to cooperate with police and promptly report any information related to drug smuggling.

With this arrest, Hiranagar Police have achieved another major success in cracking the Pakistan-linked drone-dropping heroin racket, officials said, adding that strict action against drug mafias will continue in future as well.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar