Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today chaired the 18th Union Territory-level meeting of the Narcotics Coordination (NCORD) Committee and undertook a comprehensive review of the strategy to combat drug trafficking and substance abuse through stringent enforcement of the NDPS Act, effective prosecution of offenders, disruption of organised narcotics networks, regulation of pharmaceutical drugs and expansion of treatment and rehabilitation facilities across the Union Territory.

The meeting was attended by the Director General of Police, Director General, Prosecution, Principal Secretary, Home, ADGP, CID; Administrative Secretaries, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu/Kashmir, IGP, Jammu/Kashmir; DIGs of Police; Representatives from the Army, Central Armed Police Forces, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and other senior civil and police officers. Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendents of Police of all districts participated through video conferencing.

The Chief Secretary reviewed the implementation of decisions taken during the previous NCORD meeting and assessed the progress achieved by stakeholder departments in the areas of enforcement, prosecution, preventive detention, financial investigation, demand reduction, rehabilitation, regulatory oversight and institutional capacity building.

The meeting also reviewed the proposed Vision Document on Narcotics Control (2026-2029) and the roadmap prepared under the Prime Minister's 100-Week "Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp" campaign, envisaging technology-driven enforcement, strengthened financial investigations, enhanced prosecution, disruption of organised narcotics syndicates, expansion of rehabilitation services and greater inter-agency coordination.

Observing that the 100-day Nasha Mukt J&K Abhiyaan, spearheaded by Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha, had evolved into a mass movement against drug abuse, the Chief Secretary remarked that the campaign had made a visible impact across the Union Territory through unprecedented public participation. Referring to his extensive visits across Jammu and Kashmir, he said the campaign had successfully reached every nook and corner of the UT and had significantly strengthened public awareness and community participation in the fight against substance abuse.

Reviewing implementation of the Prime Minister's 100-Week "Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp" campaign, the Chief Secretary directed all Deputy Commissioners to implement the programme in its true spirit in accordance with the prescribed guidelines. He further directed the Information Department to regularly monitor and document the outcomes of the campaign through its NMBA Portal.

Emphasising speedy disposal of NDPS cases, the Chief Secretary directed that the facility of video conferencing for recording evidence of witnesses be operationalised across all NDPS and Sessions Courts. He observed that virtual examination of witnesses would not only expedite trial proceedings but also save them from unnecessary travel and inconvenience.

Reviewing prosecution, he asked the Director General, Prosecution to undertake a comprehensive examination of all NDPS cases recommended for closure without filing appeals so as to ensure that every legally sustainable case is pursued effectively.

The Chief Secretary also directed the Law Department to broaden the scope of investigations by examining the applicability of laws such as the GST Act, MSME Act, Shops and Establishments Act and Tourism Trade Act against drug traffickers, besides closely scrutinising bank accounts and financial transactions to expose and dismantle illicit money trails.

Reviewing rehabilitation measures, the Chief Secretary directed the Health Department to ensure strict implementation of the prescribed Standard Operating Procedures for treatment of persons affected by substance abuse.

He stressed that complying with these SOPs specific set of medicines required for de-addiction treatment should be available at every health institution, from Primary Health Centres to Government Medical Colleges.

He also reviewed the functioning of IPD facilities established in the new Government Medical Colleges and District Hospitals, assessing patient admissions, manpower availability and service delivery. He further called for trained counsellors to be made available in schools, Primary Health Centres and through Self Help Groups to strengthen community-level interventions.

The Chief Secretary directed that the proposed Rehabilitation Policy be implemented on a pilot basis in selected districts of both Jammu and Kashmir divisions before its rollout across the Union Territory. He also called for the development of an integrated online platform for monitoring rehabilitation, facilitating inter-departmental coordination and ensuring effective follow-up of recovering individuals.

Highlighting the importance of continuous capacity building, the Chief Secretary called for regular training programmes for Investigating Officers and Prosecutors through structured six-month training calendars. He also impressed upon the Law Department to examine the feasibility of engaging Special Public Prosecutors for NDPS cases on the pattern adopted by the Narcotics Control Bureau.

He further directed the concerned agencies to identify operational red flags relating to courier services and evolve a robust mechanism to prevent their misuse for transportation and delivery of narcotic substances.

Earlier, Inspector General of Police, Crime Branch, Sarah Rizvi, made a detailed presentation highlighting the progress achieved by various departments under the Union Territory's anti-narcotics strategy.

The presentation revealed a sharp increase in enforcement action during the current year. It was highlighted that between April and June 2026, 1,856 NDPS cases were registered across the Union Territory compared to 428 cases during the corresponding period last year and 381 cases in 2024. During the same period, 2,190 persons involved in narcotics-related offences were arrested, while enforcement agencies seized 1,455 kilograms of narcotic substances.

Regarding the Financial investigations, it was divulged that the same witnessed a major boost during the review period. Properties worth ₹138.34 crore, comprising 228 assets, were attached under the NDPS Act, a substantial increase over ₹7.36 crore involving 31 properties attached during the corresponding period last year.

 The meeting was informed that the value of properties attached by Jammu and Kashmir Police accounted for nearly 50 per cent of the total value of narcotics-related properties attached across the country during 2026. Bank accounts containing ₹1.40 crore linked with narcotics trafficking had also been frozen.

Moreover the meeting was apprised that sustained action had also been initiated to deny habitual offenders access to civic privileges. Recommendations had been made for cancellation or impounding of 839 driving licences, 612 vehicle registration certificates and 52 passports, while action had also been taken against arms licences, contractor licences, government accommodation and security cover extended to identified offenders.

Reviewing preventive action, the meeting was informed that 135 detention proposals had been sponsored under the PIT NDPS Act during 2026, resulting in execution of 113 preventive detention orders against habitual drug traffickers.

The meeting also reviewed regulatory measures to prevent diversion and misuse of pharmaceutical drugs. It was informed that over 10,300 inspections of pharmacies and medical establishments led to detection of 312 violations, resulting in cancellation of 16 licences and suspension of 296 licences. Authorities also seized 17,528 Pregabalin capsules and 6,190 Tapentadol tablets valued at over ₹17 lakh.

The meeting was informed that sustained action against illicit cultivation of narcotic crops led to destruction of 96 kanals of poppy and 1,157 kanals of cannabis during the current year following satellite-based identification of cultivation across six districts of Kashmir division. The eradication drives resulted in registration of 247 FIRs and booking of 254 cultivators.

 Additionally the expansion of Addiction Treatment Facilities across all districts and the capacity-building initiatives undertaken through IMHANS Kashmir were reviewedtoo. It was made out that over 4,100 Master Trainers and nearly 4,900 officers and officials have been trained to strengthen the institutional response against substance abuse.

Concluding the meeting, the Chief Secretary called upon all stakeholder departments to maintain the momentum generated through coordinated institutional efforts and continue working in close synergy to effectively curb drug trafficking, strengthen rehabilitation mechanisms and realise the vision of a drug-free Jammu and Kashmir.