Early Times: Leading Newspaper Jammu Kashmir, Latest News about Jammu & Kashmir

NEW DETAILS

Drug mafia’s new shield: 150 women, several couples under scanner

ATUL SHARMA
Early Times Report

Jammu, May 25: In a significant development amid the ongoing crackdown on narcotics, security and law enforcement agencies have identified nearly 150 women allegedly involved in drug trafficking and narco-terror activities across Jammu and Kashmir. Investigations have also revealed a growing trend of couples participating in the illegal drug trade, with traffickers increasingly using women and families as frontline couriers to evade detection.
Officials said the drug mafia has altered its modus operandi in response to intensified anti-narcotics operations launched across the Union Territory. Women, often accompanied by their spouses, are now being used to transport and distribute narcotics in a calculated attempt to bypass security checks and avoid suspicion.
The latest revelation follows the recent arrest of a woman drug supplier from north Kashmir, who is suspected to be part of a larger network involved in trafficking narcotics smuggled from across the border.
Investigators believe the arrest has exposed only a small part of a much deeper and more organised network that is constantly adapting to counter law enforcement measures.
According to police officials, sustained action against traditional drug syndicates has forced traffickers to adopt new tactics.
The increasing use of women and couples as couriers has emerged as one of the most noticeable shifts in recent months.
“Since the launch of an aggressive campaign against drug trafficking, the drug mafia has continuously changed its methods. Women and couples are now increasingly being used to transport narcotics in an effort to avoid detection. However, law enforcement agencies are also adapting their strategies and will continue to counter these attempts with the support of society,” a senior police officer said.
While the involvement of women in drug trafficking is not entirely new, officials described the growing participation of couples in the narcotics trade as a disturbing trend. In one such case, a couple was arrested from the outskirts of Jammu city, shedding light on the extent to which drug networks have expanded into urban and semi-urban areas.
Investigations revealed that the woman arrested in the case, originally from Rajasthan and residing in Jammu for several years, had a history of involvement in drug-related offences. Multiple cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act had been registered against her at different police stations.
Officials said she was not only actively involved in drug trafficking but had also allegedly drawn her husband into the trade to reduce suspicion and facilitate the movement of narcotics. Owing to her repeated involvement in criminal activities, authorities invoked the Public Safety Act (PSA) against her, reflecting a tougher approach towards habitual offenders.
Police investigations have further uncovered a concerning pattern among several women arrested alongside their husbands. Many of them are outsiders who have settled in the outskirts of Jammu and are believed to have been recruited by organised drug syndicates.
Officials said a number of these individuals are themselves drug addicts who were either lured into the trade with the promise of easy money or exploited by criminal networks due to their addiction and financial vulnerabilities.
“These networks prey on addiction and desperation. Once individuals fall into their trap, they are used as carriers to push drugs into local markets,” an official said.
Authorities believe such couples are being strategically deployed to sustain drug supply chains within Jammu and Kashmir at a time when intensified surveillance and enforcement measures have disrupted conventional trafficking routes.
The evolving tactics of drug traffickers have posed fresh challenges for law enforcement agencies, prompting them to strengthen intelligence gathering and focus on identifying non-traditional carriers. Police have also intensified efforts to dismantle the networks responsible for recruiting and exploiting vulnerable individuals for drug trafficking.
Officials stressed that public cooperation remains critical in combating the growing menace of narcotics and narco-terrorism.
“The fight against drugs is no longer solely a law enforcement issue. It requires collective vigilance and community participation. We are determined to dismantle these networks, irrespective of how they attempt to reinvent themselves,” the officer said.
The crackdown against drug trafficking and narco-terror networks continues across Jammu and Kashmir, with agencies maintaining that sustained enforcement and public support will be key to curbing the menace.