Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Aug 2: Police today recovered cocaine worth Rs 10 crore from a truck that was carrying goods for trans-Line of Control (LoC) trade and had returned from Pakistan occupied Kashmir after unloading bananas in Chakoti, PoK.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, North Kashmir range, J P Singh told a news conference in Baramulla that it is evident that LoC trade is being used to smuggle in narcotics into Kashmir valley from the across and the money generated is being used in funding of militancy.
Singh said that this consignment was to be delivered to Hizbul Mujahideen. After the questioning of the driver one person belonging to HM was arrested from Srinagar. He is being questioned and the money to be generated from the consignment was to be used for funding the HM.
The DIG said that after failing in its evil designs the ISI of Pakistan is now trying to destroy the future of Kashmiri youth by luring them to drugs.
Singh said that the district police authorities, on a specific input this afternoon intercepted a truck bearing registration No. JK02F-0127 driven by one Abdul Ahad Ganie of Mawar, Handwara.
The DIG said that the truck had gone to PoK on Thursday with a load of bananas from fruit Mandi, Srinagar which were delivered to one Faizan Traders PoK in Muzaffarabad.
Singh said that during the search of the truck on its return near Sheeri, 9 Packets of about 10 kilogrammes of contraband cocaine was recovered from the truck. “The consignment of the contraband was concealed in a tyre on the overhead toolbox”, he said.
The DIG said that during questioning the driver and conductor of the truck admitted that they had brought the illegal drugs from PoK which were to be delivered to some conduit in Srinagar.
Police have lodged a case (FIR No. 47/2013) in Police Station Sheeri and investigation are going on.
Singh said that the estimated market value of the cocaine is Rs 10 crore in the international market.