Jammu, Feb 4:
In a major strike against the narcotics trade, the Jammu Police (South Zone) on Wednesday dismantled a significant drug network operating in the city. The operation led to the recovery of a commercial quantity of heroin and a massive cash haul of ₹21 lakh, identified as “proceeds of crime.”
The Viral Video Lead
The crackdown was initiated by the Bahu Fort Police Station after a disturbing video surfaced on social media. The footage reportedly showed several youths injecting drugs in the Rajeev Nagar area—a locality frequently monitored for drug-related activities.
Taking immediate cognizance, the police registered FIR No. 265/2025 under the NDPS Act and launched a swift investigation.
The Arrest and Major Recovery
Following a series of witness examinations and focused evidence collection, police arrested the primary suspect, Pal Singh, a resident of Rajeev Nagar.
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Contraband Seized: Based on Singh’s disclosure, 265 grams of heroin-like substance were recovered.
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Legal Status: The quantity falls under the “Commercial Category” of the NDPS Act, which carries stringent legal penalties.
Financial Trail: ₹21 Lakh Cash Seized
The investigation quickly shifted toward the financial backbone of the network. Police discovered that the accused had amassed significant wealth through drug sales.
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House Search: Acting on a court warrant, police searched the residence of Netar Sodhi at Malhotra Street, Lakhdatta Bazar, recovering ₹7,90,200 in cash.
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Property Deal Exposed: Further interrogation revealed that Pal Singh and his son, Arun Singh, had used drug money as an advance to purchase a shop in Rajeev Nagar from Sodhi for ₹41 lakh.
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Total Cash Recovery: Sodhi subsequently produced an additional ₹13,09,800 previously received from the accused, bringing the total cash seizure to ₹21,00,000.
High-Level Supervision
Given the scale of the recovery, the SSP Jammu and SP South Jammu are directly supervising the probe. Investigators are currently working to map the “forward and backward linkages”—tracing exactly where the drugs came from and who else was involved in the distribution chain.
“Jammu Police maintains a zero-tolerance policy against drug trafficking. We urge the public to continue sharing information to help us eliminate this menace,” a police official stated.
