220 Drug Hotspots Identified, 413 Arrests Made Across Jammu Kashmir

SRINAGAR:  220 drug hotspots have been identified across Jammu and Kashmir, including 20 newly detected zones, of which 33 hotspots have already been dismantled, and 413 individuals arrested, officials revealed at the 14th UT-level NCORD meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Thursday.

During the high-level review of anti-narcotics efforts, the Chief Secretary stressed the critical role of quality investigations in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) cases. “The success of prosecutions hinges on thorough and timely investigation,” he remarked, directing law enforcement to strengthen probe mechanisms and ensure accountability through monthly status reports detailing the progress and pendency of NDPS cases.

The meeting, attended by top civil and police officials from across the Union Territory, also addressed the issue of long-pending cases. Dulloo directed officers to examine the reasons for delays and undertake corrective measures. Special emphasis was laid on analysing bail and acquittal outcomes to identify lapses in prosecution or investigation.

The Chief Secretary instructed the Health Department to expand in-patient treatment facilities in Government Medical Colleges and District Hospitals, and to boost staffing and outreach at IMHANS.

The Director General of Police, Nalin Prabhat, called for pooling all available resources and flagged the misuse of courier services for smuggling Schedule-I drugs, recommending enhanced monitoring and enforcement.

Highlighting the scale of the anti-drug campaign, IG Crime Sujit Kumar informed that 1,032 NDPS cases have been registered this year, leading to 1,416 arrests. Law enforcement agencies also seized 1,388 kg of illicit substances and over 62,000 psychotropic tablets. Additionally, 181 cases under the PIT-NDPS Act resulted in the apprehension of 58 major traffickers following link-based investigations.

Authorities have also attached properties in 45 cases, including 35 buildings and 13 vehicles, seizing assets worth Rs 39 crore, with legal entries recorded in land revenue records.

To boost conviction rates, 247 specialised training sessions have been conducted, equipping over 2,150 Investigation Officers in modern investigative techniques. Meanwhile, efforts are underway to deploy Aadhaar-linked monitoring systems and develop a prescription tracking portal in collaboration with BISAG-N to curb diversion of legal drugs for illegal purposes.

Calling for a zero-tolerance, multi-pronged strategy, the Chief Secretary urged all departments to maintain momentum and coordination to root out the drug menace from the Union Territory.