Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has said that due to India’s close proximity to the major opium-growing regions, the country is facing the menace of drug trafficking and drug abuse among the youth is increasing, which is a matter of concern.

These observations were made today by the J&K High Court while dismissing a habeas corpus petition by a “drugs trafficker”, Jahangir Ahmad Khan, a resident of Wanigam in north Kashmir’s Baramulla.

Khan, who was first booked by the authorities under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act, 1988, and later detained on the orders issued by the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, on February 4, 2016. He is currently lodged at the district jail in Kupwara.

“The drug problem is a serious threat to the public health, safety and well-being of humanity. Besides, it is considered to be the originator of petty offences as well as heinous crimes like smuggling of arms and ammunition and money laundering,” the single bench of Justice Tashi Rabstan observed in its orders while dismissing the appeal by Khan.

“The involvement of various terrorist groups and syndicates in drug trafficking leads to threats to the national security and sovereignty of states by the way of narco-terrorism,” the High Court said.

“Due to India’s close proximity to major opium-growing areas of the region, India is facing a serious menace of drug trafficking and as a spill-over effect, drug abuse especially among youth is a matter of concern for us,” it said.

“Drug trafficking and abuse has continued its significant toll on valuable human lives,” the court observed, adding that drug traffickers were also “seamlessly trafficking” various types of drugs from one corner to the other, “ensuring availability” of the contraband for the “vulnerable segments” of society who fall into the trap of drug peddlers and traffickers, The Tribune reported.

While dismissing Khan’s petition against his detention, the High Court observed that the “aim and objective” of the enactment of the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act, 1988, was to “provide detention in certain cases” to prevent illicit traffic in narcotics drugs and psychotropic substances and for matters concerned therewith.