DGP Swain connects narcotics to terror financing

Srinagar, Sep 22: Director General of Police (DGP) Rashmi Ranjan Swain Sunday said that proceeds from the narcotics trade are increasingly being funnelled by terror handlers in Pakistan to finance terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, compensating for depleting funds due to a crackdown on traditional "hawala" channels.

“Narcotics are emerging as a major source of terror funding, creating a triple threat to our society,” DGP Swain told a selected group of reporters here. “With hawala channels largely blocked, the money generated from drugs is being used to fund terrorism.”

He said that recent investigations, particularly by the State Investigation Agency (SIA), have conclusively established the link between drug trafficking and terrorism, a connection that was unclear until a few years ago.

J&K Police chief said that the heroin flooding in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of India is being smuggled from across the border. “We don't have opium cultivation or processing units here,” he said. “The drugs originate in Pakistan, and terror handlers are pushing them into our markets.”

According to him, many of the narcotic sources in Pakistan have historical ties to terror organisations.

Explaining how drug proceeds are channelled into terrorism, Swain cited the case of former minister Babu Singh, who was arrested for attempting to establish a terror cell with money from the narcotics trade.

"We seized Rs 6 lakh from him, but further investigation revealed this was only a fraction of the total amount. The rest was distributed to former terrorists. Recently, in Ramban, we confiscated 30 kg of narcotics and traced Rs 5 crore back to Punjab, linked to this illicit trade," he said.

Swain said that combatting the narcotics-terrorism nexus is now a top priority for the police and prosecution.

"In the first seven months of this year, we secured 150 convictions under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act," he said, acknowledging that while there were 107 acquittals and 12 discharges, the criminal justice system is actively addressing these challenges.

Senior prosecution officer at Police Headquarters flanked DGP during the media interaction and said that appeals against 60 acquittals have been requested, with sanctions granted for 45 cases, and appeals already filed in higher courts.

The DGP also lauded the efforts to recognise and reward effective prosecution and investigation teams.

“We award the DG's commendation certificate and cash rewards for successful convictions," he said.

The DGP said that sentences under the NDPS Act are often severe, with many offenders receiving rigorous imprisonment for 10 to 20 years. Additionally, the attachment of properties belonging to drug traffickers has increased by 40 to 45 percent in the past year, signaling the authorities' intensifying efforts to combat the drug-terror nexus.