J&K Police step up crackdown on drug networks; cases filed, contraband seized

Action against the drug menace has intensified across Jammu and Kashmir, with police launching strict enforcement measures against those involved in narcotics trafficking and abuse.

As part of the intensified drive, Anantnag Police in South Kashmir carried out a major crackdown on narco dealers and cultivators. Police said 24 cases were registered in a single day against individuals involved in drug peddling and illegal cultivation.

“Huge tracts of land were cleared of illegal cultivation, large consignments of contraband were seized, and several peddlers were arrested. The drive is continuing with greater intensity,” Anantnag Police said.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Anantnag, Amod Ashok Nagpuri, said that police have identified key hotspots in the district along with chronic offenders operating in these areas.

In North Kashmir, Sopore Police reported further success under the ongoing ‘Nasha Mukt Jammu & Kashmir Abhiyaan’, apprehending two drug peddlers in separate operations and recovering psychotropic substances and other contraband.

Similarly, in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district, police conducted a series of enforcement, preventive and awareness initiatives aimed at curbing drug abuse and promoting a drug-free society.

In Budgam, police attached movable property belonging to a “notorious” drug peddler, Aijaz Ahmad Sheikh, under the provisions of Section 68F(1) of the NDPS Act.

Alongside enforcement, awareness activities are being carried out across the Valley. In North Kashmir’s Tangmarg, a drug awareness rally witnessed active participation from local youth, who rode all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) while displaying banners carrying messages such as “Say no to drugs, say yes to life.”

Despite these efforts, Kashmir continues to face a serious drug abuse crisis, which is affecting families, contributing to crime, and placing an increasing burden on the healthcare system. The issue is no longer confined to youth alone, with women and even children being impacted.

A 2023 report by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment presented a concerning picture of drug abuse in Jammu and Kashmir. It estimated that around 1.68 lakh children aged 10–17 years were using drugs, while approximately 11.8 lakh adults in the 18–75 age group were affected, with opioids identified as the most commonly abused substances.