SHIMLA/DEHRADUN: Drug addiction and smuggling are rapidly emerging as a grave threat in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Drug Cartels are Tightening Noose on Himalayan Youth as Politicians Stick to Hollow Rhetoric.
The most alarming trend? The youth are at the center of it all. From addicts to traffickers, and even overdose victims, the majority are young individuals in tourist hotspots like Shimla, Dehradun, Manali, Mandi, Kullu, and Nainital and the like.
Shocking Arrests and Tragedies
Last week, Shimla police arrested two brothers with chitta (heroin), who hail from Punjab in Shoghi. In a tragic twist, two other brothers from Matiana in Shimla recently died due to drug overdoses.
There were over four to five deaths of youth in the Mandi-Jogindernagar region in the recent past.
These deaths and incidents have become frequent occurrences even in rural areas which go unreported due to stigma attached to addiction.
In Nainital, Uttarakhand police intercepted 58 kilograms of ganja being smuggled in ambulances in two separate busts. In Haldwani, four youths were caught with narcotic pills and injections.
There are countless incidents of drug related incidents and fights both withing the families of victims and outside.
Evolving Tactics of Drug Traffickers
Traffickers are outpacing enforcement with new methods like using ambulances, public transport, tourism, and even the darknet.
National data reveals that between 2020 and April 2024, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) registered 92 cases involving the darknet and cryptocurrencies, and over 1,000 cases linked to parcels and couriers.
Irony is that even NCB officials sometimes are involved in the illicit trade, revealed the sources.
Despite a drop in cases under the NDPS Act in Uttarakhand—607 in 2020 to 206 in 2022—police say traffickers’ innovative operations continue to compound the problem.
The Nexus in Himachal’s Apple Belt
Shimla police and state Anti-Narcotics Task Force cracked down on the notorious Shahi Mahatma Gang, arresting local over 50 dealers in the prosperous apple-growing belt of Rohru, Jubbal, and Kotkhai recently.
However, Mandi and Kullu—infamous hubs for drugs—remain relatively unchecked and Mandi and Kullu police have not shown any activism so far, informed local citizens.
The drug dance parties, Full Moon Parties in Kasol, Tosh, Kulga, Chalal normalize the consumption of synthetic drugs and Malana hash, drawing domestic and foreign tourists.
Dehradun: Education Hubs Under Siege
Dehradun, known as the “Education Capital,” has become a hotspot for drug peddlers.
On December 15, 2024, police seized LSD worth ₹2 crore. The highly potent drug, sourced from Bengaluru via the dark web, was meant for students and elite parties, revealed the Uttarakhand police sources.
A month earlier, a Cobra Gang member was nabbed with 44.5 grams of cocaine near Canal Road. His network preyed on educational institutions, targeting vulnerable students.
Even Bollywood actress and current BJP MP from Mandi, Kangana Ranaut, who studied in Dehradun briefly had spoken out about the city’s drug problem and she had once became a victim.
She highlighted the growing vulnerability of students to these networks.
Coordinated Efforts Needed
Despite some success, the fight against drug cartels is disjointed. Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, with porous borders and similar demographics, must collaborate to dismantle these networks.
There is a Joint task force in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal for shared intelligence, and strategic crackdowns. But not with Uttarakhand.
The major tourist routes like Dehradun-Mussoorie, Shimla-Rohru-Tiuni-Dehradun, Chopal-Tiuni-Dehradun, Manali-Leh-Kargil, Shimla- Thanedar require fortified checkpoints and increased patrolling.
Awareness campaigns under initiatives like the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan must penetrate deeper into rural areas to protect the youth.
The Fight Ahead
While the Shahi Mahatma and Cobra Gangs have been partially dismantled, the cartels’ backbone remains unbroken.
The hills, known for their peace, are now notorious for drug addiction, smuggling networks that exploit tourism, education hubs, and economic prosperity.
This battle is far from over. Law enforcement and society need to be activated before more young lives are lost. These hills, and their future generations, cannot afford complacency.
The governments read politicians need to shun sloganeering and waging war against drug cartels in the two states.
The campaign like drug-free Shimla, NashaMuktUttarakhand need to be turned into people movement. So far these remain at best as plain rhetoric.
