Rajasthan Police’s ANTF Nabs Fugitive Drug Lord from Kashmir After 17-Year Manhunt

Jaipur. The Rajasthan Police Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) has successfully concluded a high-stakes mission dubbed Operation Vishadharasim, resulting in the arrest of a notorious drug smuggler who had evaded capture for 17 years. The suspect, identified as Shabir Ahmed Khan, alias Haji, was apprehended in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir. A reward of 25,000 rupees had been placed on his head by the GRP Jodhpur police for his involvement in a massive inter-state narcotics network.

The investigation traces back to 2009, when a significant consignment of charas was seized from a train traveling from Delhi to Ahmedabad. This discovery exposed a sprawling drug supply chain stretching from the Kashmir valley to Gujarat. Shabir Ahmed, who had been a key figure in this operation, fled his home state immediately after the crackdown and spent nearly two decades constantly shifting his residence between relatives' homes to avoid detection.

According to police officials, the suspect initially entered the illicit trade through his father, a civil contractor who was also involved in narcotics. Shabir later leveraged his experience as a medical representative to build a client base, eventually using his credentials as an A-class electrical contractor to secure business contracts in various states. These professional fronts allowed him to move freely and establish a robust distribution network for charas across Rajasthan and other regions.

The breakthrough came when the ANTF, under the guidance of senior police leadership, intensified its intelligence gathering on long-term fugitives. Upon receiving credible information that the suspect was active in Kashmir, a specialized team was dispatched to Anantnag. To maintain absolute secrecy in the sensitive region, the officers adopted various disguises, including posing as local bike riders and shepherds, to monitor the suspect's movements without raising suspicion.

After three days of rigorous surveillance, the team identified a vehicle linked to the suspect and coordinated with local Jammu and Kashmir police to execute a raid. The operation culminated in the arrest of the fugitive at his residence. The suspect expressed shock that the Rajasthan police had successfully tracked him down despite his efforts to blend into the local environment. Authorities are currently interrogating him to dismantle the remaining remnants of his historical drug network.