Narco-Terrorism in J&K: Cross-Border Drug Smuggling Threatens Peace in Poonch and Rajouri

Shyam Sood & Manzoor Naik
Rajouri, July 9: Jammu and Kashmir, a region long defined by cross-border militancy and infiltration, now faces an evolving and insidious threat-Narco-Terrorism. This dangerous nexus of drug trafficking and terrorism, systematically fueled by Pakistan-based handlers, is no longer just about funding terror operations-it’s a direct assault on society, especially the youth.
And nowhere is this threat more pronounced than in the border districts of Poonch and Rajouri, which have emerged as the epicenters of this hybrid warfare due to their proximity to the Line of Control (LoC) and vulnerable geography.
With over 150 km of porous border, thick forests, hidden nallahs, and rugged terrain, Poonch and Rajouri have historically been infiltration corridors. Today, these same routes are being used to smuggle heroin and synthetic drugs via traditional couriers and, increasingly, drone drops.
Villages near the LoC, Mendhar, Balakote, Krishna Ghati (Poonch), Keri (Rajouri), and others, have reported multiple instances of youth being recruited to act as drug couriers by handlers linked to terrorist groups, lured by promises of easy money.
A series of high-profile cases over the past two years reflects the scale and seriousness of this problem:
2023: 7 kg heroin, one pistol with 10 rounds, ?2.23 crore in cash, and USD 1500 were recovered from the house of Rafi Lal in Dhana village, Mendhar.
March 2023: Army recovered 2 kg heroin-like substance, 2 pistols, and 2 kg IED near Jhangar (Nowshera).
2024: 11.3 kg heroin was seized from 5 accused in Makri-Nowshera; 8.5 kg heroin worth crores was seized from 4 smugglers in Badi-Makri (FIR No.36/2024, PS Nowshera).
These seizures are not isolated but indicate a systemic operation, often involving Over Ground Workers (OGWs) previously linked to militancy.
The Jammu & Kashmir Police, in coordination with the Army and intelligence agencies, has scaled up operations through initiatives like Operation Sanjeevani to dismantle drug networks in both districts.
Filing of over 230 FIRs in 2023 alone in Poonch and Rajouri. Sealing properties of habitual offenders under the NDPS Act, Enhanced drone surveillance, LoC patrolling, and Community engagement with village heads to build local intelligence networks.
While enforcement is essential, officials stress that the law alone cannot defeat narco-terrorism. Encouragingly, civil society has begun to mobilize religious leaders in Darhal and Surankote, who are using sermons to urge parents to monitor their children.
Teachers and students in Rajouri and Budhal are organizing drug awareness campaigns.
Youth clubs in Thanamandi are leading door-to-door awareness drives and social media campaigns with slogans like “Zindagi Bachao, Nasha Hatao.”
However, these efforts require consistent support from the state, both financially and institutionally.
The impact on youth is heartbreaking. Once brimming with patriotic zeal, many students are now dropping out, turning to crime, or falling into depression and addiction. Drugs like heroin, brown sugar, and synthetic pills have found their way even into school campuses.
Families across LoC-facing villages now fear not only militants, but the loss of their children to narcotics.
To counter this growing threat, experts and officials urge a comprehensive state-led response, including:
Establishment of fully equipped de-addiction and rehabilitation centers in both districts.
Deployment of drone jammers, AI-powered surveillance systems, and special anti-narcotics police units along the border.
Creation of fast-track NDPS courts to deliver swift justice.
Investment in sports facilities, vocational training, and youth engagement programs to provide alternatives to drug use.
Narco-terrorism is not just a criminal challenge-it is a national security crisis. In districts like Poonch and Rajouri, which have produced hundreds of soldiers, officers, and martyrs, the drug threat is an attempt to weaken India from within.
The time to act is now. This fight requires every hand-government, police, teachers, clerics, and parents-working together. If we lose our youth, we lose our future.