Youth Arrested With 21 Grams of Heroin Outside Leh Airport, Police Say

A 21-year-old youth was arrested outside Kushok Bakula Rimpochee (KBR) Airport in Leh on Monday after police allegedly recovered 21.02 grams of heroin from his possession.

According to a police statement, Police Station Leh received specific and credible information that Jigmet Chosgyal, son of Nurbroo Dorjay and a resident of Chumathang currently living in Police Colony, Choglamsar, was arriving in Leh from Delhi on an IndiGo flight while allegedly carrying a substantial quantity of heroin.

The information indicated that the substance was concealed in his personal carry bag among clothes and other belongings and was allegedly intended for sale in Leh town at a high price, the statement said.

Police registered a case under Sections 8 and 21 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and initiated an investigation.

During the investigation, approximately 21.02 grams of heroin was allegedly recovered from Chosgyal outside KBR Airport. He was subsequently taken into custody in connection with the case. Police said he and his close relatives were informed by mobile phone about the grounds and nature of his arrest.

The police statement described the recovery as reportedly unprecedented in Ladakh, given the quantity of heroin seized.

The investigation is ongoing. Preliminary interrogation has indicated that the recovered drugs may have been sourced from Nayagaon in Chandigarh, police said.

The arrest comes amid growing concerns over drug abuse and trafficking in Ladakh. Authorities have reported 298 new cases of drug abuse in the Union Territory in recent months, including 101 involving opioids and 40 involving cannabis and multiple substances.

Following directions from Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, Ladakh’s newly formed Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) has launched enforcement operations, seizing more than 1.5 kg of charas during its first week of operations.

Law enforcement agencies have also reported cases involving charas, heroin, ganja and brown sugar, with arrests across Leh, Zanskar and Kargil. Officials have intensified vehicle checks at key mountain passes and entry routes, including Zoji-La and Sarchu, to curb the movement of contraband into the region.

Further investigation into the case is underway.