Heroin worth ₹25 crore seized near LoC in J&K's Poonch district
Synopsis
One of the largest heroin seizures near the Line of Control in recent years — ₹25 crore worth of narcotics recovered from a forward village in Poonch — points directly at the narco-terror pipeline that security agencies say funds militancy in Jammu and Kashmir. One arrest made; the network runs deeper.
Key Takeaways
The NCB recovered heroin worth over ₹25 crore near the LoC in Poonch district, J&K on 18 July .
The seizure was made in village Kosalyain , Haveli tehsil , a forward area close to the LoC.
One suspected smuggler was arrested; investigations are ongoing to identify the full network.
Officials say the heroin was smuggled from across the border and meant to be distributed further into the hinterland.
Intelligence agencies link cross-border drug smuggling proceeds to terror financing in Jammu and Kashmir.
Further arrests and recoveries are expected as the probe progresses, officials said.
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Saturday, 18 July recovered heroin valued at over ₹25 crore in the international market from a forward village near the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district, Jammu and Kashmir. Officials described it as one of the largest narcotics seizures along the LoC in recent years.
Where and How the Seizure Was Made
The recovery was carried out during a meticulously planned anti-drug operation in village Kosalyain, located in Haveli tehsil — a forward area in close proximity to the LoC. Officials said the heroin had been smuggled from across the border and was intended to be moved deeper into the hinterland through an organised cross-border narcotics network.
One suspected smuggler was arrested in connection with the seizure, according to officials. Investigations are currently underway to identify the intended recipients of the consignment, the cross-border handlers, and the local distribution network that was to facilitate its onward movement.
Scale and Significance of the Recovery
The estimated international market value of the recovered heroin — over ₹25 crore — makes this one of the biggest drug busts in the border district in recent memory, officials said. Security agencies have repeatedly flagged attempts by Pakistan-based smugglers and handlers to push narcotics into Jammu and Kashmir via border routes.
Notably, intelligence agencies believe that funds generated through cross-border drug smuggling, hawala money rackets, and other financial scams are ultimately used to sustain terror activities in the region. This seizure is consistent with a broader pattern of narco-terror networks operating along the LoC.
The Security Architecture on the Border
The Indian Army and the Border Security Force (BSF) are deployed along the LoC and the international border to counter cross-border smuggling, infiltration, exfiltration, and drone activities originating from the Pakistani side. Local police and security forces independently conduct anti-smuggling operations in the hinterland.
Officials said further arrests and additional recoveries are likely as the probe progresses. The NCB is working to dismantle the broader network behind this consignment.
What Happens Next
Investigators are focused on tracing the full chain — from cross-border handlers to local distributors — to prevent the smuggled funds from reaching terror networks. The operation underscores the dual threat of narcotics and terrorism that security agencies continue to confront along Jammu and Kashmir's western border.
Point of View
Not more cautious. The arrest of one smuggler is a start, but the real test is whether investigators can roll up the cross-border handlers and the local distribution chain before the network reconstitutes itself. Past operations have netted couriers while the architects remain untouched — that pattern needs to change if these recoveries are to translate into lasting disruption.
NationPress
19 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized near the LoC in Poonch, J&K?
The Narcotics Control Bureau recovered heroin with an international market value of over ₹25 crore from village Kosalyain in Haveli tehsil, close to the Line of Control in Poonch district, Jammu and Kashmir. Officials described it as one of the largest drug recoveries in the border district in recent years.
When did the Poonch heroin seizure take place?
The seizure was made on Saturday, 18 July, during a planned anti-drug operation by the NCB in a forward village near the LoC in Poonch district.
Has anyone been arrested in connection with the Poonch drug bust?
Yes, one suspected smuggler was arrested in connection with the recovery. Investigations are underway to identify the cross-border handlers, the intended recipients, and the local network involved in distributing the consignment.
How is cross-border drug smuggling linked to terrorism in J&K?
Intelligence agencies believe that proceeds from cross-border narcotics smuggling, along with hawala money rackets and other financial scams, are used to fund terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir. Security agencies have flagged that Pakistan-based smugglers often operate in conjunction with terror networks to generate funds for anti-national activities.
Which agencies guard the LoC against smuggling and infiltration?
The Indian Army and the Border Security Force are deployed along the LoC and the international border to counter cross-border smuggling, infiltration, exfiltration, and drone activities. Local police and security forces separately conduct anti-smuggling operations within the hinterland.
