Jammu,
In a major crackdown on the pharmaceutical drug trade, the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of Jammu & Kashmir has arrested a high-profile drug trafficker operating under the guise of a legitimate business owner.
The accused, identified as Jatish Babbar, son of Harish Babbar and a resident of South Delhi, was apprehended following a precision-led operation. Babbar is the owner of Sakshi Pharma, a Delhi-based firm allegedly used as a front for large-scale narcotics distribution.
Babbar’s arrest is being viewed as a significant breakthrough, as he was a wanted figure in multiple drug-related investigations. He is currently linked to three separate FIRs registered at the ANTF Police Station in Jammu: FIR No. 45/2020, FIR No. 04/2021 and FIR No. 06/2021. All charges have been filed under Sections 8, 21, 22, and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, which cover the illegal possession, sale, and conspiracy involving manufactured drugs and psychotropic substances.
Preliminary investigations suggest a sophisticated operation. Authorities state that Babbar exploited his position as a pharmaceutical firm owner to facilitate the illegal procurement and supply of psychotropic substances. By leveraging the legal channels of Sakshi Pharma, he was allegedly able to move restricted substances across state lines, fueling an addiction crisis under the radar of traditional law enforcement.
“The accused played a pivotal role in a massive inter-state network. This arrest is just the tip of the iceberg,” stated an official close to the investigation.
The ANTF is now focusing on “unearthing both forward and backward linkages.” This involves: Identifying the suppliers (backward linkages) who provided the raw psychotropic materials and Tracking the distributors and local peddlers (forward linkages) in J&K who received the consignments.
The “pinpoint” nature of this arrest suggests that the ANTF has access to specific intelligence, potentially leading to more arrests in the Delhi-NCR and Jammu regions in the coming days.
