Parcel meant for Kashmir farmer throws up 4kg of cocaine

In recent weeks, the J&K Police have been on high alert as part of a relentless effort to curb drug trafficking. Their efforts were rewarded when they intercepted a suspicious parcel bound for a poultry farmer in the Ganderbal district. The farmer, who recently tied the knot, had been expecting poultry feed and was completely unaware of the four kilograms of cocaine hidden within the package.

The tipoff came from an informant, leading the police to the farmer's home. Upon arrival, investigators were stunned to discover the narcotics hidden within the parcel. The contents of the package, intercepted at the Ganderbal post office, included 80 grams of cannabis and various psychotropic drugs. The parcel had been shipped from Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, a distance of approximately 1,300 kilometers.

The farmer admitted to police that he had been tricked by a sender who had initially offered poultry feed samples via WhatsApp. This initial contact led police to the farmer's wife, who, after a phone call from a number in Saudi Arabia, disclosed that her ex-boyfriend orchestrated the scheme to frame her husband for drug possession. The man behind the scheme was identified as Tariq Ahmad Sofi, a former boyfriend of the farmer's wife. Sofi was apprehended on August 9.

The investigation revealed that Sofi was not only involved in the plot but also acted as an intermediary. He informed investigators that the parcel was shipped at the insistence of Areeb, a friend from Kanpur. Areeb was subsequently identified as the sender. Sofi has been charged under sections 8/20 and 21 of the NDPS Act.