J&K Anti-Narcotics Task Force Dismantles Inter-State Nexus; Absconder Arrested in Maharashtra

JAMMU, February 17, 2026 — In a major breakthrough against inter-state drug trafficking, the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of Jammu & Kashmir has successfully arrested a high-profile absconder from Maharashtra.

The accused, identified as Arif Ibrahim Sayyed, a resident of Mumbra, Thane, had been evading arrest for nearly three years in connection with FIR No. 09/2023 registered under the NDPS Act at Police Station ANTF Jammu.

Following sustained surveillance and the issuance of warrants by the Hon’ble Sub Judge Court, Jammu, a specialized ANTF team tracked the suspect to Mumbra.

With the tactical coordination of the local Thane police, Sayyed was apprehended on February 14, 2026, marking a significant victory in tracing the “backward linkage” of narcotics supply chains entering the UT.

The investigation revealed credible evidence linking Sayyed to a larger network of drug distribution. After his capture, the accused was produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) in Thane, where a transit remand was granted to bring him back to Jammu for further interrogation.

This successful cross-border operation underscores the ANTF’s commitment to dismantling drug syndicates regardless of geographic boundaries.

Officials stated that further investigation is currently underway to identify additional associates and completely unearth the inter-state links involved in this trafficking chain.