Five persons were arrested here today with over 55 kg of narcotic substances, meant to be distributed at several places on New Year's eve.

"Five persons have been arrested and over 55 kg of charas worth Rs44 lakh has been seized from them. The drugs were brought from Jammu and Kashmir, and were to distributed in the city on New Year's eve," additional commissioner of police (crime) Deven Bharti told reporters here.

The prime arrested accused, Salim Shaikh, used to drive to Srinagar in his car to pick up the drugs and then distribute it in the market in Mumbai, Bharti said.

"We are in touch with the Jammu and Kashmir police, and are in search of the person who used to supply the drugs to Shaikh," Bharti said.

The four other accused are Parsuram Bhorde, Afaq Umer, Tariq Shaikh and Mehmud Hussain.

All the five accused were produced before a magistrate court which remanded them to police custody till December 21.

The police has also seized the Indigo car used by Shaikh to transport the drugs from Srinigar.