NCB smashes cross-border heroin ring; arrests mastermind with 5.16 kg seizure

Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officials have busted a cross-border heroin trafficking cartel operating across Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, resulting in the arrest of three suspects including the alleged ringleader. The operation culminated in the seizure of 5.16 kilograms of heroin and the dismantling of a sophisticated smuggling network.

Following initial investigations and surveillance, NCB teams traced the primary accused to Leh district in Ladakh, where he was apprehended on Monday, August 24. The arrest came within 48 hours of the heroin seizure, indicating rapid operational coordination between regional NCB units.

The investigation revealed the syndicate's involvement in moving contraband across the porous India-Pakistan border in the Jammu region before distributing supplies through secondary distribution networks in Ladakh. The three arrested individuals are believed to have played key roles in procurement, transportation, and distribution operations.

The NCB has intensified its focus on cross-border narcotics trafficking in northern India, particularly along vulnerable stretches in Jammu and Kashmir. Officials stated that the bust represents a significant disruption to drug supply chains operating in the region.