The massive quantity of narcotics seized in Jammu and Kashmir over the last five years presents a deeply worrying picture that goes far beyond routine law enforcement statistics. The recovery of over 75,000 kilograms of opium-based drugs and nearly 11,000 kilograms of cannabis between 2020 and November 2025 is not merely a reflection of enforcement efficiency; it is a stark indicator of the scale at which smuggling networks continue to operate across the Union Territory. Such enormous volumes cannot exist without a sustained and well-organised supply chain, pointing to the uncomfortable reality that narcotics trafficking in J&K remains largely unabated despite intensified surveillance. Jammu and Kashmir’s geographical location makes the situation particularly alarming. With one of the longest and most sensitive international borders in the country, the UT has effectively become a major corridor-and increasingly, a hub-for contraband smuggling. The region’s difficult terrain, dense forests, and riverine belts provide traffickers with multiple infiltration routes. While technological interventions such as AI-enabled surveillance, drones, and integrated command systems have strengthened monitoring, the consistently high volumes of seizures indicate that traffickers are rapidly adapting to countermeasures. The steady flow suggests that while consignments are being intercepted, many may still be slipping through porous stretches.
The issue assumes even greater gravity when viewed through the security prism. There is increasing concern that drug money is being diverted to fund terror activities, sustain sleeper networks, and destabilise local communities. The narco-terror nexus poses a dual threat-weakening society internally through addiction while simultaneously strengthening anti-national elements financially. Experts have consistently warned that lower recovery figures can also reflect shifts in smuggling routes, improved concealment methods, or diversification into synthetic drugs. Without transparent data on dismantled networks, financial tracking, and conviction rates, enforcement success cannot be fully measured.
Despite the BSF’s efforts and multi-agency operations, the data underscores that several vulnerable points along the border still require plugging. What is needed now is a more aggressive and coordinated strategy involving border forces, intelligence agencies, financial investigators, and local policing systems. Greater focus must also be placed on community awareness and youth engagement. Unless the fight against narcotics is sustained with renewed strategy, sharper intelligence, and stronger inter-agency coordination, the drug menace will continue to undermine both the social fabric and security architecture of Jammu and Kashmir. The scale of seizures is a warning that cannot be ignored.
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