Leh: Youth arrested with narcotics outside KBR airport

Leh: A youth was arrested on Monday outside the KBR airport in Leh town of Ladakh after narcotics were recovered from his possession.

A police statement said that Police Station Leh received credible, reliable, and specific information that one person, namely 21-year-old Jigmet Chosgyal, son of Nurbroo Dorjay, resident of Chumathang, presently resident of Police Colony Choglamsar, was arriving at Leh from Delhi by an IndiGo Airlines flight and was carrying a substantial quantity of narcotic substance (Chitta Heroin) in his possession.

“The said narcotic substance was reportedly concealed inside his personal carry bag among his clothes and other personal belongings, with the intention of selling the same to like-minded persons in Leh town at an exorbitant price,” the statement said.

It added that a prima facie cognizable offence punishable U/S 8/21 of the NDPS Act was made out. Accordingly, a case was registered at P.S. Leh, and investigation was taken up. ​

During the course of investigation, approximately 21.02 grams of narcotic substance (heroin) was recovered from the possession of the aforesaid person outside of KBR Airport.

​Consequently, the police took the said person into custody in connection with the instant case, and he, along with his close relatives, was informed of the grounds and nature of his arrest by mobile phone.

Police added that it ​is pertinent to mention that the recovery of heroin in such a substantial quantity is reportedly unprecedented in Ladakh to date. ​

The matter is under investigation, and further inquiry is underway, while preliminary interrogation suggests the recovered drugs were obtained from Nayagaon, Chandigarh.

Narcotics and substance abuse are no longer unheard of in Ladakh as the region is facing a rapidly growing drug and addiction crisis.

Authorities reported 298 new cases of drug abuse in the Union Territory in recent months, including 101 cases involving opioids and 40 cases of cannabis and poly-substance abuse.

Following directions from Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, Ladakh's newly formed Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) launched major crackdowns, seizing over 1.5 kg of charas in its first week of operations.

The crackdown exposed an alarming trend where local youths are involved in both consuming drugs and peddling them to fund their own addictions.

Law enforcement has recovered various substances including charas, heroin, ganja, and brown sugar, leading to multiple arrests across Leh, Zanskar, and Kargil.

Administration officials have stepped up vehicle checks at key mountain passes and entry corridors like Zoji-La and Sarchu to stem the flow of contraband into the region.

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