Police arrest drug paddler after shootout, recover large cache of narcotics

ABBOTTABAD, Jul 24 (APP):Abbottabad Police arrested an alleged drug paddler after an exchange of fire during a crackdown against narcotics on Banda Pir Khan Road and recovered over 1.6 kilograms of drugs and an illegal firearm here on Friday.

According to police, acting on the special directives of District Police Officer (DPO) Haroon Rashid Khan, Mangal Police attempted to stop two suspects during a routine operation. The suspects allegedly opened fire on the police party, prompting retaliatory fire. During the exchange, one of the suspects, identified as Ghayoor Ali, was reportedly injured by gunfire from his own accomplice and was taken into custody.

Police recovered 1.27 kilograms of hashish, 401 grams of heroin, and an illegal firearm from the arrested suspect. A case has been registered, while raids are underway to arrest the second suspect who escaped from the scene.

Police said the arrested suspect, a resident of Kakul, Abbottabad, is a habitual offender with a criminal record involving multiple narcotics-related cases registered at Mirpur Police Station under various provisions of the Control of Narcotic Substances laws.

DPO Haroon Rashid Khan praised the police team for the successful operation and said the district-wide campaign against drug traffickers would continue without discrimination. He added that those involved in supplying narcotics and endangering the younger generation would be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law.