12 habitual drug peddlers detained in Anantnag in anti-narcotics crackdown

Srinagar, Apr 25: In a push against drug trafficking, Anantnag Police have detained 12 habitual drug peddler’s under preventive provisions of law, marking a significant step in the district’s ongoing crackdown on narcotics.

Officials said the detained individuals were repeat offenders actively involved in drug peddling and related illegal activities, posing a serious threat to public health and safety. Despite previous legal action, they allegedly continued their involvement in the narcotics trade, prompting authorities to initiate strict preventive measures.

Acting under due legal procedures and after obtaining necessary approvals from Executive Magistrates, all 12 accused have been lodged in Subsidiary Jail Kehribal in Anantnag. Police described the action as part of a broader strategy to dismantle entrenched drug networks and prevent repeat offenders from continuing illegal activities. “This reflects our firm resolve to safeguard youth and society from the menace of drugs,” an official said, adding that similar action will continue against habitual offenders. The detentions come amid an intensified anti-drug campaign across the district. Police on Saturday carried out simultaneous Narco CASOs (Cordon and Search Operations) at nearly 20 identified hotspots, targeting peddlers, cultivators, and suspected kingpins.

Searches, aided by specially trained K9 units, were conducted at multiple locations to detect concealed narcotics. Authorities also surveyed movable and immovable properties of suspects to trace illegal assets, which may be attached under the NDPS Act if found linked to drug trafficking. In a single day, police registered 24 cases under the NDPS Act against drug peddlers and cultivators, arrested several suspects, and seized significant quantities of contraband. Large tracts of land used for illegal cultivation were also cleared.

Continuing the crackdown, police destroyed poppy cultivation spread over 10 marlas of land and registered five FIRs in separate operations in areas including Dooru, Larnoo, and Pahalgam. Police reiterated their commitment to eradicating drug abuse and trafficking, urging the public to cooperate by sharing information about illegal activities. Officials assured that the identity of informers would be kept confidential. The ongoing operations are part of the larger anti-drug initiative aimed at dismantling the narcotics ecosystem through sustained enforcement, preventive detention, and community participation.