JAMMU, Aug 14 (Agencies): Since 2023, 4,536 individuals have been arrested in Jammu and Kashmir for involvement in the drug trade, with 3,190 cases registered during this period, the tribune reported.
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The law enforcement agencies, have intensified their crackdown on illegal narcotics networks, leading to significant seizures and the detention of key figures under the PIT NDPS Act. In the last 18 months, 463 detention orders have been issued against drug kingpins.
In 2023 alone, authorities intercepted and seized 319 instances of commercial quantities of drugs, with 110 such seizures reported in 2024 up to June. The seized narcotics are swiftly disposed of through court-ordered incineration to prevent pilferage. Last year, 29,306 kg of drugs and 74,179 pharmaceuticals were destroyed, while 4,365 kg of drugs and 26,772 pharmaceuticals were incinerated in the first half of 2024.
The government has also targeted the nexus between narcotics and terrorism, resulting in the arrest of 39 individuals linked to narco-terror networks in 19 cases over the past year and a half. To financially disrupt drug trafficking operations, the JK Police have attached properties, including residential houses, land, and vehicles, worth Rs 10.36 crore in 43 NDPS cases since 2023.
The 10th UT-level Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) meeting recently emphasised intelligence sharing, strict enforcement, and effective investigation to combat drug trafficking. Law enforcement agencies have been urged to leverage information from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the NIDAAN portal to enhance their efforts.