SRINAGAR: Police across three districts of Jammu and Kashmir—Srinagar, Awantipora and Budgam—registered more than 290 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in 2025, arresting over 470 persons and attaching properties worth more than Rs 45 crore, official data released on Wednesday revealed.
According to figures shared by Srinagar Police, a total of 172 NDPS cases were registered in the district between January 1 and December 29, 2025. Of these, 84 cases involved small quantities, 66 medium quantities and 22 commercial quantities of narcotics. Police arrested 291 persons during the year and seized drugs worth crores of rupees.
The recoveries in Srinagar included 1.473 kilograms of heroin, 9.110 kilograms of brown sugar, 20.583 kilograms of charas, 71.506 kilograms of poppy straw, bung and cannabis, and 1.950 kilograms of crystal meth and other synthetic substances. In addition, police seized 23,767 psychotropic tablets and capsules, 89 injectable vials, 130.143 kilograms of ganja and 799 bottles of codeine-based syrup.
As part of financial disruption measures, Srinagar Police froze 208 bank accounts, seized Rs 25.62 lakh in cash and attached 38 properties—nine movable and 29 immovable—with a total market value of Rs 40.58 crore. Fifty-eight vehicles used in narcotics-related offences were also seized, while 46 drug peddlers were booked under the PIT NDPS Act.
In Awantipora, police registered 62 NDPS cases during 2025, leading to the arrest of 96 accused persons. Twelve drug peddlers were detained under the PIT NDPS Act, and four properties worth approximately Rs 1.56 crore were attached after due legal process.
Police said illegally cultivated poppy spread over more than 35 kanals and nine marlas, along with wild bhang over 35 kanals, was destroyed in the Awantipora area. Recoveries included 186.42 grams of heroin, 87.241 kilograms of cannabis powder, 55.300 kilograms of poppy straw, 3.524 kilograms of charas, 330 Spasmo Proxyvon capsules and four bottles of illicit liquor. Cash amounting to Rs 1.12 lakh was also seized.
Awantipora Police further reported that one encounter took place during the year in which three militants were neutralised and one arrested, while three terror modules were busted. Seventeen persons were detained under the Public Safety Act, 320 overground workers were bound down and 408 other miscreants booked as part of preventive measures.
In Budgam district, police registered 58 NDPS cases and arrested 83 persons during 2025. Fifteen accused were detained under the PIT NDPS Act, while three cases resulted in convictions. Police also destroyed illicit poppy and bhang cultivation spread over 46 kanals.
Budgam Police attached properties in 11 cases, including eight residential houses, two shopping complexes, land measuring six kanals and one marla, and three vehicles. The total valuation of attached assets was estimated at Rs 3.69 crore.
Significant seizures in Budgam included 2.936 kilograms of charas, 41.542 kilograms of charas powder, 33.100 kilograms of bhang leaves, 126.405 kilograms of poppy straw, 4.290 kilograms of fukki, 330 kilograms of cannabis powder and 22.759 kilograms of ganja. Cash amounting to Rs 0.36 lakh was also seized, with the total value of recovered contraband estimated at Rs 2.57 crore.
Police said seized narcotics in 34 FIRs were destroyed under Section 52-A of the NDPS Act, involving more than 210 kilograms of drugs valued at around Rs 1 crore.
Officials said the data reflects a sustained, zero-tolerance approach towards narcotics, with a focus on dismantling drug networks, targeting financial assets and eliminating illicit cultivation, while continuing preventive, humanitarian and community-oriented policing efforts across the districts. (KNT)
