The administration in Jammu and Kashmir has announced a series of stringent measures targeting drug smuggling networks, including the revocation of official documents and seizure of assets, as part of an intensified anti-narcotics campaign.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said individuals involved in drug trafficking would face cancellation of licences, passports and Aadhaar identification, alongside confiscation of movable and immovable property.

Bank accounts linked to such activities will also be frozen, with financial investigations initiated under existing legal provisions.The announcement was made during the launch of a “drug-free J&K” public campaign at M.A. Stadium in Jammu.

Sinha stated that the administration would pursue a zero-tolerance approach, with enforcement agencies directed to take swift action against offenders and dismantle organised networks.Under a newly introduced Standard Operating Procedure, authorities will issue Look Out Circulars against absconding suspects.

Properties associated with drug traffickers will be attached under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, enabling legal seizure of assets linked to illicit activities.Sinha also referred to cross-border dimensions of drug trafficking, stating that smuggling routes were being used to undermine communities and contribute to substance abuse within the region.

While not naming any country directly, he indicated that external factors were contributing to the spread of narcotics.To strengthen enforcement at the local level, the administration has called for increased coordination with grassroots institutions, including panchayats, mohalla committees, chowkidars, lambardars and ward-level surveillance groups.

These networks are expected to assist in identifying offenders and supporting intelligence gathering.The policy measures coincide with the notification of the Jammu and Kashmir Substance Use Disorder Treatment, Counselling and Rehabilitation Centres Rules, 2026.

The framework aims to standardise the functioning of rehabilitation facilities and expand access to treatment services for individuals affected by substance abuse.The administration has also outlined a three-month public outreach programme focused on awareness and prevention.

Planned activities include sports tournaments, educational debates, quizzes and community events such as marches and padyatras. Officials said the initiative is intended to increase public participation and embed awareness across both rural and urban areas.

Sinha described substance abuse as one of the most serious challenges facing the region, emphasising that enforcement measures would be complemented by social and rehabilitative efforts.

He noted that since 2021, the administration has expanded outreach programmes, particularly targeting youth and underserved communities.

The campaign calls for participation from educators, social workers, community leaders and young people, with the administration positioning the initiative as a collective effort to address both the supply and demand sides of the drug problem.

Authorities said the combination of legal enforcement, financial tracking and community engagement is intended to create a comprehensive response aimed at reducing drug trafficking and supporting affected individuals across Jammu and Kashmir.

A defense ministry official, cited by state news agency SANA, said the tunnel was located near the village of Hosh Al-Sayyid Ali, west of Homs, and had been used by what the statement described as “Lebanese militias.”

The military has since sealed the passage.The closure comes as Syrian and Lebanese authorities step up efforts to curb smuggling across their porous border, particularly in mountainous regions that have long facilitated illicit trade and movement of goods and fighters.

Eastern Lebanon, adjacent to the Syrian border, is a stronghold of Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group currently engaged in hostilities with Israel.shifting regional dynamicsHezbollah had played a key role in supporting former Syrian president Bashar Assad during Syria’s civil conflict.

Following his overthrow in December 2024 by an Islamist coalition opposed to the group, key supply routes between Syria and Lebanon have been disrupted.

Authorities on both sides of the border have since moved to dismantle smuggling networks, reflecting broader shifts in regional alliances and security priorities.

No further details were provided on the scale of the tunnel or whether arrests were made in connection with its use.