J&K begins 100-day ‘Nasha Mukt Abhiyan’, LG vows zero tolerance on drug trafficking

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday launched a 100-day intensive anti-drug campaign , warning of stringent action against cross-border drug trafficking networks and announcing sweeping punitive measures, including confiscation of property and cancellation of key documents of those involved.

Leading a padyatra (march) from M A Stadium to Parade Ground in Jammu to mark the beginning of the “ Nasha Mukt Abhiyan ”, the Lt Governor said the administration will use the full force of law to dismantle drug networks operating in and around the Union Territory. He highlighted the role of the Golden Crescent a major opium-producing region and the involvement of well-organised cross-border trafficking networks in fuelling the drug menace in the region. “Our neighbour is using cross-border smuggling to poison our communities and undermine our nation's future,” Sinha said, adding that drug trafficking must be stopped at all costs.

He announced that under newly issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), authorities will move to confiscate properties, freeze bank accounts, and revoke Aadhaar cards, passports, driving licences, and arms licences of individuals involved in drug trafficking. For those absconding, Look Out Circulars (LOCs) will be issued immediately, and financial investigations will be intensified under the NDPS Act .

The Lt Governor also directed officials to strengthen grassroots intelligence mechanisms by involving panchayats, mohalla committees, chowkidars, lambardars, and ward surveillance committees to identify and report drug-related activities. Drug abuse remains one of the most serious challenges in Jammu and Kashmir, with authorities repeatedly reporting cases involving heroin smuggling, synthetic drug circulation, and youth addiction trends . In recent years, police have registered numerous cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act , leading to arrests of interstate and cross-border traffickers and recovery of significant quantities of narcotics.

Officials say drug trafficking networks have increasingly targeted vulnerable youth and exploited smuggling routes, making enforcement and community participation crucial. Sinha said the government remains committed to a “decisive victory” against the menace, adding that assets of drug smugglers will be seized and ringleaders prosecuted without delay . Calling for collective action, he urged citizens to participate in the campaign, stating that the three-month movement aims to convert awareness into responsibility and build a sustained public fight against drugs in the Union Territory.