Srinagar, April 18, 2025: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha raised alarms over the growing use of cryptocurrency in narco dealings, highlighting the dark web’s emergence as a new marketplace for the drug trade. Speaking at the passing out parade of the 16th Batch of the Basic Recruit Training Course at the Police Training School in Manigam, Ganderbal district, Sinha underscored the evolving challenges posed by technology in combating narco-terrorism.
“Smugglers and narco-terrorists are changing their communication methods daily. The dark web is becoming a hub for drug trafficking, with cryptocurrency replacing conventional transactions,” Sinha stated. He emphasised the need for security forces to upgrade their skills and adopt new technologies to counter these threats effectively. The misuse of advanced technologies, he noted, has expanded organized crime and fuelled a rise in cybercrime incidents across the region.
LG Manoj Sinha praised the Jammu and Kashmir Police for their role in curbing terror incidents in Kashmir, while cautioning that efforts are being made to revive terrorism in the Jammu region. “Our brave soldiers face the dual challenge of combating terrorism and maintaining law and order to foster development in J&K,” he said. He highlighted the police force’s improved performance in real-time intelligence sharing and swift response, assuring full support from the J&K administration and the central government.
The Lieutenant Governor’s remarks align with broader efforts to dismantle the narco-terror nexus in the Union Territory. In January 2025, Sinha participated in a regional conference on ‘Drug Trafficking and National Security’ organized by the Narcotics Control Bureau, where he reiterated J&K’s commitment to neutralizing drug syndicates through financial investigations and inter-departmental coordination.
This development underscores the pressing need for enhanced technological capabilities and vigilance to tackle the sophisticated methods employed by narco-terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.