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.

According to officials, the searches were related to possible violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). The agency targeted NGOs and firms funded by OSF and SEDF, as well as Aspada Investments Private Limited, a holding company of SEDF. Authorities stated that Aspada acts as an investment advisor and fund manager for SEDF in India and is a wholly owned subsidiary of a Mauritius-based entity.

Officials revealed that the agency traced a money trail of INR25 crore from Soros-linked companies to several Indian NGOs. Additionally, foreign direct investment (FDI) amounting to INR300 crore, funneled through OSF’s subsidiaries, is under scrutiny. It is believed that SEDF has funded over a dozen companies in India with investments totaling INR300 crore.

ED’s Investigation into Foreign Funding

A senior officer, speaking anonymously, confirmed that ED recently launched a FEMA probe against Soros and his companies. “Our teams carried out raids at eight locations in Bengaluru to investigate contraventions in FDI rules by SEDF and OSF and the subsequent utilization of those funds,” the officer said.

Preliminary investigations indicate that OSF was placed under the Ministry of Home Affairs’ (MHA) prior reference category in 2016, restricting it from making unregulated donations to Indian NGOs. However, officials suspect OSF circumvented these restrictions by establishing subsidiaries in India and routing funds under the guise of FDI and consultancy fees.

A second official noted that ED is examining the end-use of other FDI funds brought in by SEDF and OSF in India.

SEDF’s Investment History in India

According to VCCEdge, the data platform owned by HT Media, SEDF invested INR50 crore in its impact-focused subsidiary, Aspada Investments, in 2013. Aspada Fund 1, its first fund, later raised around INR271 crore, which it used to invest in over a dozen companies, including quick commerce platform Dunzo Digital, WayCool Foods and Products, and NeoGrowth Credit.

SEDF later sold a controlling stake in Aspada to LGT, a private banking and asset management group owned by the Princely House of Liechtenstein. In 2021, this entity was renamed Lightrock, which continues to invest in impact-driven businesses in India.

OSF’s Presence and Restrictions in India

OSF, one of the world’s largest private funders of human rights advocacy, impact investment, and justice-related initiatives, began operations in India in 1999. However, officials confirm that OSF does not have a formal office in the country.

The organization’s website acknowledges that its funding activities in India have been constrained since mid-2016 due to government restrictions.

Political Controversy Surrounding George Soros

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government has previously linked Soros to Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. In December 2024, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey accused the Congress of collaborating with the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), a global investigative journalism initiative allegedly backed by Soros’ OSF, to undermine India’s Parliament and government. BJP MP Sambit Patra also alleged that Rahul Gandhi was part of a “triangle” with Soros and OCCRP aimed at destabilizing India.

Neither OSF nor SEDF has responded to queries regarding the ED’s latest actions.