10 kg cocaine recovered from cross LOC trade truck

Ten kg of cocaine, estimated at Rs.10 crore in the international market, were recovered Friday from a truck that had returned to Baramulla district from Pakistan-administered Kashmir during trade across the line of control (LOC) dividing the state.

"On a specific input, Baramulla police intercepted a truck bearing registration number JK02F-0127 driven by Abdul Ahad Ganie of Mawar Handwara (Kupwara) this afternoon," police said, adding it had crossed the LoC Thursday with a load of bananas from the fruit mandi in Srinagar.

These were to be delivered to Faizan Traders across the LoC.

"During the search of the truck on its return near Sheeri (Baramulla district), nine packets (approximately 10 kg) of contraband cocaine was recovered from the truck. The consignment of the

contraband was concealed in a tyre on the overhead toolbox," police said.

Police said that on being questioned, the driver and helper of the truck admitted that they had brought the illegal drugs from across the LoC to be be delivered to some conduit in Srinagar.

A case has been registered and investigation taken up.