J&K Police Launches Decisive Crackdown on Narco-Terror Network

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat on Thursday announced that the Union Territory is witnessing one of its most aggressive and coordinated crackdowns on what he alleged is Pakistan-backed narco-terrorism, declaring that the police force is “fighting a decisive battle” against cross-border drug syndicates and their local handlers.

Addressing a press conference here, the DGP said the ongoing Nasha Mukt Jammu & Kashmir Abhiyan has triggered an unprecedented surge in anti-narcotics operations, resulting in massive seizures, arrests, property attachments and demolition of illegal assets accumulated through the drug trade.

According to Prabhat, the campaign—particularly between April 11 and May 12—has produced “historic results.” During this period alone, police registered 724 NDPS cases and arrested 806 individuals involved in narcotics trafficking, marking a seven-fold increase compared to last year. Among the major arrests were notorious offenders Gulzar Ahmad alias Love Gujar, wanted in 28 cases, and Avneet Singh alias Nagi, wanted in 17 cases in Jammu province.

The intensified drive led to the seizure of 667 kilograms of narcotic substances and over 19,000 units of psychotropic drugs, while 24 habitual offenders were booked under PIT-NDPS. The DGP said the force has maintained “consistent performance” since 2023, especially in preventive detentions, property attachments and contraband seizures.

J&K Police ranked first in the country in PIT-NDPS detentions in 2025 with 240 preventive arrests, and third nationally in property attachments, he said.

A major highlight of the crackdown has been the financial assault on drug networks. Police identified and attached 97 properties worth Rs 41.85 crore, including the biggest single-case attachment of Rs 6.17 crore by Anantnag Police. For the first time, J&K Police also attached properties outside the Union Territory, including in Gurdaspur, Pathankot and Chandigarh, signalling a widening of the investigation beyond regional boundaries. The police in Valley’s southern Kulgam district attached additional properties worth Rs 2.93 crore in Jammu to establish backward linkages in the narcotics chain.

In another significant move, 41 illegal structures worth nearly Rs 15 crore, built using proceeds of the drug trade, were demolished after due legal process. Police teams also destroyed illicit poppy and cannabis cultivation spread over 117 kanals of land, the police chief said.

Prabhat said the campaign has combined enforcement with awareness, with 2,401 sensitization programmes conducted across schools, colleges and vulnerable hotspots, reaching nearly three lakh people. Simultaneously, a focused inspection drive covered 5,238 chemists and drug shops, with action initiated against 151 violators. Police also disposed of 4,962 kilograms of narcotics and 6,493 psychotropic units following court orders.

To choke mobility and financial channels of drug traffickers, authorities cancelled or suspended 162 driving licences and 92 vehicle registration certificates, while recommending the impounding of 10 passports linked to narcotics activities.

The DGP emphasised that the fight against narco-terrorism is directly linked to national security, asserting that Pakistan-backed syndicates are attempting to destabilise the region through drugs and terror financing. He warned that strict action will continue against all handlers, facilitators and peddlers.

Reaffirming the police force’s commitment, the DGP said the crackdown will intensify further, with zero tolerance for narcotics and organised crime networks operating within or outside J&K.