The arrest of a Leh Airport IndiGo engineer has triggered a fresh investigation into alleged narcotics trafficking in Ladakh after the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) claimed to have recovered heroin from the airport employee during a routine operation. The development has put the spotlight on the growing challenge of drug smuggling into the Union Territory, with investigators now trying to determine whether the accused was part of a larger network. Officials say the probe is still at an early stage and more arrests cannot be ruled out.
Leh Airport IndiGo engineer booked under NDPS Act
The accused has been identified as 22-year-old Ajay Thakur, a resident of Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district, who was working as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer at IndiGo’s Leh Airport.
According to the police, the IndiGo engineer at Leh Airport was intercepted during routine ANTF patrol in Leh city. During the search, officers allegedly recovered 2.27 grams of heroin from his possession.
Following the recovery, an FIR was registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Authorities confirmed that the Leh Airport IndiGo engineer remains in custody while investigators examine the circumstances surrounding the seizure.
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Investigators examine possible interstate trafficking links
Officials said the investigation has now expanded beyond the recovery itself. The focus is on tracing the origin of the narcotics and identifying whether the Leh Airport’s IndiGo engineer had any connection with interstate drug suppliers or local peddlers operating in Ladakh.
Investigators are also examining whether the accused acted independently or was part of a broader supply chain attempting to move narcotics into the region. The case has raised questions about possible links between airport personnel and organised trafficking networks, although no evidence has yet been made public to support such claims.
The airline has not publicly commented on the investigation.
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Ladakh intensifies crackdown on narcotics
The arrest comes as security agencies continue an aggressive campaign against drug trafficking across Ladakh. Official data shows that 33 NDPS cases have been registered in the Union Territory since the beginning of 2026, resulting in 27 arrests and multiple seizures of heroin, charas, ganja, brown sugar, and cocaine.
Officials said the Leh district has recorded the highest number of narcotics cases this year.
Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has directed enforcement agencies to strengthen intelligence-based operations and dismantle interstate trafficking routes targeting the region’s youth.
The administration has also appealed to educational institutions, families and community organisations to support awareness campaigns aimed at preventing substance abuse.
The Leh Airport’s IndiGo engineer case is expected to remain under scrutiny as investigators continue tracing the alleged supply chain behind the heroin recovery.
