In 2023, Maharashtra police and central agencies witnessed an increase in drug production and dissemination in the state and its capital Mumbai, say officials. So, with New Year’s Eve round the corner, a strict vigil is being maintained in the city to thwart the drug trade as law-enforcement agencies crack down on suppliers and peddlers.
Those with the know-how of drug rackets operating in Mumbai said that while there is a greater supply of narcotics in the financial capital around New Year’s Eve, the demand is present throughout the year.
“Bandra, Lokhandwala, and Town, which are posh, affluent localities in the city, usually see a high demand for drugs. Around the end of the year, Strain, which is a purer form of ganja, is sold for Rs 48,000-50,000 in the market. Strain is called “Bud” in code to escape being tracked,” said a person who was earlier associated with the drug business in the city.
The Narcotics Control Bureau has also uncovered a new modus operandi and a new drug called Khat, which is now being found for the first time in India. An international racket has been working to increase the demand for this drug in the city because it is sold at a hefty price and is easy to smuggle along with tea leaves.
In December, 2.989 kg and 3.960 kg of Khat leaves were seized from two parcels originating from Kenya. A Yemeni national was arrested in this case. To evade the law, these products were being sent through the post and the parcels were detected at the foreign post office in Mumbai.
Catha Edulis is the scientific name of the drug, commonly known as Dry Chatt. In India, it is usually called Khat and is illegal. The international drug network for Khat originates from West Asia and it is illegally pushing it into India.
In the past year, four factories producing drugs were busted in Maharashtra. According to details provided by Maharashtra ATS, a total of 2,491 cases of drug trafficking have been registered, leading to the arrest of 3,277 individuals in the state in a year.
In 2022, around 9,530 cases of drug consumption were registered and 9,700 people were arrested. In comparison, 10,536 cases of drug consumption were registered in 2023 and 10,231 individuals were arrested. In August 2022, the ATS had confiscated 2,728 kg of MD drugs worth Rs 1,400 crore.
Some of the major drug busts reported in Maharashtra in 2023 include the Lalit Patil case valued at Rs 305 crore, Rs 250 crore worth of drugs seized from Sambhaji Nagar by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, and narcotics worth Rs 107 crore seized from a factory in Khopoli by Maharashtra police.
However, officials say despite efforts by agencies, drug peddlers and smugglers are coming up with unique ways of pushing narcotics into the country, such as hiding drugs in wigs and undergarments, changing their chemical component, or concealing them with other food products and sending them as parcels via post.
Comments
0 comment