Srinagar, July 13 -- The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) of Srinagar Zone has uncovered a major drug smuggling racket in south Kashmir, along with the arrest of two individuals including a former militant and the seizure of 39 kilograms of poppy straw, as per an official statement.

According to officials, the operation was launched based on specific intelligence inputs and carried out in the Bijbehara area of Anantnag district on July 8 and 9.

The two arrested individuals have been identified as Shabir, a resident of Nowshera in Srigufwara, and Amin, a resident of Kanelwan in Bijbehara.

During the initial raid, NCB teams recovered approximately 28 kilograms of poppy straw. Further questioning led to the recovery of an additional 11 kilo...