The ongoing anti-narcotics crackdown in the Valley is disrupting the channelling of drug trade proceeds into real estate and other informal investments, as authorities widen their focus from enforcement to the financial networks underpinning the illicit economy.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha last month launched a 100-day anti-drug campaign under the Nasha Mukt Abhiyan aimed at making Jammu and Kashmir drug-free. From awareness rallies to intensified action against drug peddlers, the campaign has gathered pace across the region.
Police have, in recent weeks, demolished and attached properties allegedly acquired through proceeds of the drug trade, signalling a shift towards dismantling the economic foundations of narcotics trafficking. Official data show that around 24 houses were demolished between April 11 and May 2, allegedly constructed using such proceeds. In a separate action on May 3, about 15 commercial structures linked to individuals accused in cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act were also targeted.
“Properties worth crores were also attached as they were linked to proceeds from the drug trade,” an official said.
The crackdown comes against the backdrop of a growing drug use problem in the region. More than 1.3 million people in Jammu and Kashmir are estimated to be using various substances, according to the National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India. The data indicate that between 450,000 and 540,000 individuals use opioids, around 350,000 consume alcohol, about 130,000 use cannabis, and nearly 150,000 rely on sedatives.
Officials say over 68,000 kg of narcotics have been seized in the region over the past five years, underscoring the scale of the challenge.
Sinha on Tuesday described the fight against narcotics as an extension of efforts to combat terrorism, linking drug trafficking with terror financing. Speaking during a padyatra in Budgam, he alleged that Pakistan was pushing narcotics into the region and said curbing drug abuse was key to protecting youth and disrupting militant funding networks.
Analysts say the focus on financial linkages marks a significant shift in strategy, as authorities move to choke the flow of illicit money that sustains the drug trade.
“By targeting assets and informal investment channels, the crackdown is beginning to disrupt the recycling of narcotics proceeds into the local economy”, said a Srinagar-based political and security analyst.
Published on May 5, 2026