ANANTNAG: The Srinagar Narcotics Control Bureau has arrested two people allegedly running a drug smuggling racket operating in Anantnag district, officials said on Sunday.

"The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Srinagar Zone, has successfully busted a narcotics smuggling racket operating in South Kashmir with the arrest of two key accused, including a former militant," the department said in a statement.

The bureau had conducted an operation in the Bijbehara area of Anantnag district on July 8 and July 9.

"The operation led to the seizure of about 28 kilograms of poppy straw and the arrest of the two accused persons -- Shabir Ahmad and Mohammad Amin," it said.

About 11 kilograms more of poppy straw was recovered from the premises of Shabir Ahmad.

Investigation has revealed that Shabir Ahmad had been a member of the banned outfit Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and was arrested in 1996 for terror activities. He was released in 2004.

Officials said Mohammad Amin was found involved in two NDPS cases - one registered at Indaura Police Station of Himachal Pradesh in 2017, and the other at Srigufwara Police Station in J&K.

Amin secured bail in both cases, officials said.