Jammu: An alleged drug peddler and his four associates were today arrested and heroin recovered from their possession in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, a senior police officer said.   

The arrests were made from Manakote area after a police party during patrolling noticed some suspicious movement, Senior Superintendent of Police, Rajouri, Yougal Manhas told PTI.   

The occupants of the vehicles tried to flee on spotting the policemen but were chased and arrested by the police. "The arrested persons have been identified as notorious drug peddler Mohammad Shakoor of Danidhar, his associates Tauseef Hussain Shah, who runs a medicine shop at Kothdhara, driver Mohammad Ajaz Gujjar, Zakir Hussain and Mohammad Arif," the SP said.   

He said 10 gms of heroin was recovered from the possession of Shakoor, who has been arrested by police. Besides heroin, Rs 1,81,500 and 292 Riyals were seized during the operation, the officer said.  

Describing their arrest as a "major breakthrough" in the drive against drug menace in the district, the officer said they were carrying cash to buy narcotic substances.   

He said all the five were booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and an investigation was going on to unearth the entire gang.PTI