30 kg heroin seized from hotel in J-K's Banihal

Thirty packets of heroin, weighing a total of 30 kg of the contraband, was seized from a hotel in Banihal belt of Ramban district Thursday, police said.

The contraband was seized after police, based on a tip-off, conducted a search operation in and around the railway station and its adjoining hotels and guest houses, SSP Ramban Anita Sharma said.

During the search, an unattended bag was found from a room in 'Hotel Chinar', the SSP said.

After enquiry, it surfaced that the bag belonged to the guest who had checked-in a short while ago, she said.

The bag had 30 packets of apparently equal size and quantity, she added.

The forensic team confirmed the presence of heroin in the packets weighing one kg each, the SSP said, adding that the seized contraband values in several crores in the international market.

During preliminary investigation, it was found that the accused had allegedly booked the hotel room on a fictitious name and mobile number, she added.

A case was registered at the Banihal police station and further investigation is underway and efforts are being made to nab the accused and find out the source of the psychotropic substance, the officer said.