Massive drug seizures expose thriving narcotic trade in J&K

Srinagar, Jul 23: Data released in Lok Sabha on Tuesday regarding the quantum of drug seizures in Jammu and Kashmir paints a vivid picture of the onslaught of supply chains and drug cartels in the Union Territory. The seizures show that J&K is under a siege by drugs, and the authorities are fighting a war on many fronts.

On July 22, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai detailed the battle against narcotic trafficking in J&K, and other states and UTs of India. Quoting the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, the MoS disclosed that over 1.12 lakh kilograms of drugs have been seized in J&K over five years, between 2018 and 2022.

The J&K numbers pertaining to various years of the reference period show peaks and troughs. In 2018, authorities seized 19,353.68 kilograms of drugs, 87,713 units, and 7,997.22 litres of psychotropic substances, a shocking haul. But 2019 saw the stakes rise higher, with 26,517.39 kilograms, 1,64,428 units, and 2,133.30 litres confiscated. Year 2020 hit higher, even though a part of J&K had been separated as the UT of Ladakh. The seizures skyrocketed to 27,361.35 kilograms, 6,18,361 units, and a mind-boggling 40,890.11 litres of psychotropic substances, enough to flood the streets.

The drug seizures dropped to 22,082.41 kilograms, 1,71,954 units, and 4,069.23 litres in 2021, followed by a further drop in 2022 to 17,192.41 kilograms, 3,00,776 units, and 956.10 litres.

According to J&K Government figures, the drug seizures have continued to escalate since 2022. In 2023, “29,306 kg of drugs and 74,179 pharmaceuticals were destroyed, with 4,365 kg of drugs and 26,772 pharmaceuticals destroyed in the first half of 2024,” the Government has said in a press release in August 2024.

Over the reference period, 6851 people have been booked under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in J&K. The number of persons booked under the Act was 938 in 2018 and doubled to 1837 in 2022.

The J&K Government has filled into the data post 2022 period. It has been said a total of 3190 cases have been registered and 4536 persons have been arrested in the crackdown against the illegal narcotic trade network since 2023. “In order to break the supply chain, the Law Enforcing Authorities have invoked PIT NDPS Act against the drug kingpins, resulting in 463 orders of detention for the last 18 months,” it said in August last year. J&K has also established stringent measures to curb the supply and sale of psychotropic substances. Over the past year, many arrests and challans have taken place in cases pertaining to illegal possession, procurement, and distribution of medicinal opioids and related substances.