‘Drug menace societal challenge, collective efforts must to save youth’

Srinagar, Dec 24: In an active response to the escalating drug menace, Srinagar Police has made significant strides in tackling narcotics trafficking throughout this year and operation to nib the menace will be intensified with each passing day.

Police registered 94 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, leading to the arrest of 156 individuals involved in the trafficking and peddling of drugs, including major seizures of brown sugar, crystal meth, and psychotropic substances.

Addressing a press conference, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar, Imtiyaz Hussain Mir said that year-long crackdown, highlighting the importance of a concerted effort to tackle the drug crisis. He said that the efforts resulted in 46 major cases being launched, the detention of 26 notorious drug peddlers under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (PIT-NDPS), and the seizure of illegal drugs and properties worth over Rs 4.5 crore.

“One of the key highlights of this operation has been the seizure of 1.7 kg of brown sugar, 2.83 kg of crystal meth, along with several other psychotropic substances. We also confiscated 13.13 kg of Charas, 10.16 kg of Ganja, and significant quantities of heroin and poppy straw,” SSP said adding that additionally, a total of 284 bottles and 2,823 tablets of banned psychotropic drugs were recovered.

The police also went after the financial infrastructure supporting the drug trade. “In line with our efforts to dismantle the criminal networks, we have attached seven vehicles and seven residential houses worth approximately Rs 4.5 crore. These properties were acquired by the drug traffickers through the illegal proceeds of their narcotic operations,” he said.

The crackdown has not been limited to arrests and seizures, he said. The police have frozen 23 bank accounts linked to drug peddlers and submitted dossiers to the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, for the detention of 26 individuals under the PIT-NDPS Act. These individuals, many of whom had previously been granted bail, continued their involvement in drug trafficking despite numerous cases being registered against them.

The city police chief stressed the growing importance of a community-driven approach to combat the drug crisis. “The youth, especially, are vulnerable to the devastating effects of drugs. We must come together to raise awareness and address this crisis at every level,” he said.

Drawing a parallel to J&K’s long struggle against terrorism, the SSP Srinagar called for the same level of collaboration to tackle the drug problem. “The fight against drugs is similar to our fight against terrorism. Just as we combated terrorism with the combined efforts of the security forces, government, and the public, we must now unite to combat this menace. It’s not just a professional duty, but a moral responsibility,” he asserted.

The SSP reiterated the commitment of police to taking strict action against those involved in drug trafficking, warning that the law would catch up with offenders sooner than expected. “We are closely monitoring the activities of drug traffickers and peddlers. Many of them may think they are off our radar, but we are waiting for the right moment to catch them with evidence,” SSP said.

In a bid to offer support to families affected by drug addiction, the SSP encouraged parents of drug-addicts to seek assistance from rehabilitation centers.

“We view drug addicts as victims in need of treatment. For those addicted, there is help available through our police-run facility in Srinagar and other private and government centers. However, for the traffickers, the full force of the law will be applied,” he added.

He also said that there was a notable reduction in cross-border trafficking in Kashmir , attributing the efforts of law enforcement agencies to curtail the supply of narcotics into Kashmir from neighboring areas. Despite the significant progress, authorities remain vigilant, continuing to trace even small quantities of drugs back to their source.

“We will not stop until we eradicate this problem from our society. Our fight against narcotics will continue with full vigor, and with the support of the public, we can make Srinagar a drug-free city,” SSP added.