‘Anti-social elements exploring alternate supply routes’
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, June 21: The Drug Control Organization (DCO), Kashmir, claimed to have seized over 26,000 tablets of various brands of tapentadol during a raid on a courier agency in response to credible intelligence.
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The authorities, while terming the raid the biggest so far, emphasized that anti-social elements were now exploring alternative methods of drug supply to Kashmir.
Speaking at a press conference, Deputy Drug Controller Nighat Jabeen stated that they received reliable information indicating that such elements were resorting to airlifting intoxicating drugs. “In light of this information, a raid was conducted on a courier agency in the Srinagar district using a cautious approach,” she said.
During the raid, Jabeen reported that the team seized 26,600 tablets of tapentadol, with an estimated value of over Rs 700,000. “The details of the consignee and consignor mentioned on the package are currently under investigation; we will ensure that we trace down its origin and take the necessary action.”
“This is our third raid. We used to raid transport agencies so far because these elements used to transport such drugs by road, but now they are using the air route. Earlier, we made a few seizures from the airport. Last time, 7,500 capsules of Spasmo-Proxyvon were seized along with 2,600 of another drug. This is the biggest seizure so far,” she added.
It is to be noted here that the raid was carried out by a team of Drug Control officers, including Sameer Sajad, Rumeesa Mohammad, Imtiyaz Ahmad Shalla, and Shaila Farooqi.
Officials clarified that tapentadol is a schedule H1 opioid analgesic and can only be sold with a prescription from a Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP) for medicinal purposes.
While commending the efforts of the team, Jabeen she said that the department would ensure that the matter is brought to a logical conclusion. “The concerned enforcement wing has been working against all odds, and we will continue to conduct such operations in the future, working towards eradicating the menace of drug addiction.”
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