Jammu and Kashmir Police have recovered more than 21 kg of opium (poppy) plants and arrested one person in connection with the case in Kathua district, officials said on Friday.
Acting on a credible input about the illegal cultivation of poppy in the Pallan area of Billawar, a police team launched an operation under the supervision of senior officers on Thursday.
During the searches, police seized 21.68 kg of poppy plants and destroyed them on the spot in the presence of an executive magistrate. The arrested individual has been identified as Khushi Mohd, a resident of Pallan village in Kathua’s Billawar tehsil.
Officials said a case under relevant sections of law has been registered at Police Station Billawar and further investigation is underway. Earlier, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha warned drug syndicates operating in the Union Territory to give up the trade or face consequences in the coming weeks.
He directed police officials to prepare a list of persons involved in the drug trade and take action against them within 30 days. He also ordered the police to revoke driving licences of drug peddlers and seize their identity documents, including Aadhaar cards, as part of efforts to curb the drug menace in the UT.
Furthermore, directions have been issued to administrative officials not to issue legally valid documents to drug peddlers. The administration may also confiscate properties and assets belonging to drug dealers if they fail to stop the illegal activity.
Also read: Security beefed up at tourist hotspots across J&K
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