SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Wednesday reviewed Jammu and Kashmir’s anti-narcotics strategy at the 18th Union Territory-level meeting of the Narcotics Coordination (NCORD) Committee and directed departments to strengthen enforcement, speed up prosecution and expand rehabilitation services to curb drug trafficking and substance abuse.
The meeting reviewed implementation of decisions taken earlier and assessed progress in enforcement under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, prosecution, preventive detention, financial investigations, rehabilitation, regulatory oversight and institutional capacity building. Senior civil and police officers, representatives of the Army, Central Armed Police Forces and the Narcotics Control Bureau attended the meeting, while Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendents of Police joined through video conferencing.
The Chief Secretary also reviewed the proposed Vision Document on Narcotics Control (2026-2029) and the roadmap under the Prime Minister’s 100-week Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp campaign, which focuses on technology-driven enforcement, financial investigations, prosecution, rehabilitation and inter-agency coordination.
Referring to the Lieutenant Governor-led 100-day Nasha Mukt J&K Abhiyaan, Dulloo said the campaign had generated widespread public participation against drug abuse across the Union Territory. He directed all Deputy Commissioners to implement the Prime Minister’s campaign in accordance with the prescribed guidelines and asked the Information Department to monitor and document its progress through the NMBA Portal.
To expedite disposal of NDPS cases, the Chief Secretary directed that video conferencing facilities for recording witness evidence be made operational in all NDPS and Sessions Courts. He also asked the Director General of Prosecution to review all NDPS cases proposed for closure without appeal to ensure legally sustainable cases are pursued.
The Law Department was directed to examine the applicability of other laws, including the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Act, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Act, Shops and Establishments Act and Tourism Trade Act, against drug traffickers, besides closely scrutinising financial transactions and bank accounts linked to narcotics offences.
On rehabilitation, Dulloo directed the Health Department to ensure strict implementation of standard operating procedures for de-addiction treatment and availability of prescribed medicines at all health institutions, from Primary Health Centres to Government Medical Colleges. He also reviewed inpatient de-addiction facilities in new Government Medical Colleges and district hospitals and called for trained counsellors in schools, health centres and Self Help Groups.
The Chief Secretary directed that the proposed rehabilitation policy be implemented on a pilot basis in selected districts before being extended across Jammu and Kashmir. He also called for an integrated online platform to monitor rehabilitation and improve inter-departmental coordination.
He stressed the need for regular training of investigating officers and prosecutors through structured six-month training calendars and asked the Law Department to examine the feasibility of engaging Special Public Prosecutors for NDPS cases on the lines of the Narcotics Control Bureau. He also directed agencies to identify vulnerabilities in courier services and develop safeguards against their misuse for transporting narcotic substances.
Earlier, Inspector General of Police, Crime Branch, Sarah Rizvi, presented the progress made under the Union Territory’s anti-narcotics strategy.
According to the presentation, 1,856 NDPS cases were registered between April and June 2026, compared with 428 during the corresponding period last year and 381 in 2024. During the period, 2,190 persons were arrested and 1,455 kilograms of narcotic substances were seized.
The meeting was informed that properties worth ₹138.34 crore, comprising 228 assets, were attached under the NDPS Act during the review period, compared with ₹7.36 crore involving 31 properties during the same period last year. Bank accounts containing ₹1.40 crore linked to narcotics trafficking were also frozen.
Officials said Jammu and Kashmir Police accounted for nearly 50 per cent of the total value of narcotics-related properties attached across the country in 2026.
The meeting was also informed that recommendations had been made to cancel or impound 839 driving licences, 612 vehicle registration certificates and 52 passports of identified offenders. Action was also initiated against arms licences, contractor licences, government accommodation and security cover.
On preventive action, 135 proposals were sponsored under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT NDPS) Act during 2026, resulting in 113 preventive detention orders against alleged habitual drug traffickers.
Reviewing regulation of pharmaceutical drugs, officials said more than 10,300 inspections of pharmacies and medical establishments detected 312 violations, leading to cancellation of 16 licences and suspension of 296 others. Authorities also seized 17,528 Pregabalin capsules and 6,190 Tapentadol tablets valued at over ₹17 lakh.
The meeting was informed that 96 kanals of poppy and 1,157 kanals of cannabis cultivation were destroyed this year after satellite-based identification across six districts of Kashmir division. The operation led to registration of 247 FIRs and booking of 254 alleged cultivators.
Officials also reviewed the expansion of addiction treatment facilities across all districts and training programmes conducted through the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS) Kashmir. More than 4,100 master trainers and nearly 4,900 officers and officials have been trained as part of the institutional response to substance abuse, the meeting was informed.
