J&K Police Apprehend Most-Wanted Drug Kingpin “Lau Gujjar” Ending 20-Year Manhunt
JAMMU, APRIL 15, 2026 — In a landmark achievement for regional security, the Jammu and Kashmir Police have successfully dismantled a sophisticated interstate and cross-border narcotics syndicate following the arrest of the notorious drug kingpin Gulzar Ahmad, alias “Lau Gujjar.”
Senior Superintendent of Police (Jammu) Joginder Singh described the operation as a major breakthrough, noting that Gujjar had eluded authorities for over two decades while orchestrating a massive drug supply chain across the region.
The kingpin, who transitioned from bovine smuggling in 2006 to high-scale narcotics trafficking by 2019, was captured alongside several key associates.
The arrest on April 4 yielded a Pakistan-made pistol and over 700 grams of heroin, prompting the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe deep-rooted financial trails and potential narco-terror links associated with the network.
The crackdown on Gujjar’s operations has led to the interrogation of ten additional suspects, with approximately two dozen more individuals currently under active surveillance to ensure the total eradication of the syndicate.
Gujjar faces at least 28 criminal cases in Jammu alone, alongside dozens of FIRs filed across various states under multiple aliases.
Highlighting the scale of the ongoing anti-drug offensive, SSP Singh revealed that Jammu police have registered 103 drug-peddling cases this year, resulting in the seizure of nearly 11 kg of heroin and a significant quantity of other contraband.
To further cripple the infrastructure of the drug trade, authorities have canceled 20 driving licenses and blacklisted nearly 200 vehicles linked to illicit activities, underscoring a zero-tolerance policy toward narcotics in the Union Territory.