Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Aug 21: In spite of the fact that coronavirus pandemic and resultant lockdowns have brought miseries to the people, the drugs racket has been upbeat. The drug cartels have been targeting the young generation and students who always are eager to experience the new, and hence easily fall prey to drug addiction.
It is said that a person from Kavoor residing in Muscat sends drugs to Bengaluru by air cargo, and his contact in Bengaluru collects the consignment and distributes the same to middlemen spread over the entire state.
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Akhilesh, a local, has been looking after this illegal activity in the city. He draws support from another youngster, Sahil. The police have arrested both Akhilesh and Sahil.
The city police who conducted the operation have learnt that MDMA, a synthetic drug, valued at several lacs of rupees gets supplied to the coastal belt every month. MDMA is sold at a price of Rs 1,000 per pack, and there is a demand for 100 to 150 packs in the city alone every month. During their operations conducted in just two months, July and August, the police have succeeded in taking into possession assets worth Rs 14.8 lac.
Sources claim that MDMA is being sold in different size sachets starting from five grams. All the drugs-related dealings are conducted through WhatsApp. Customers and middlemen exchange messages or directly make calls on WhatsApp. Therefore, the police have been finding it hard to put together documentary evidence to support their case.
The city crime branch and narcotics team which busted the MDMA peddling racket has visited Bengaluru to arrest some of the accused persons and to conduct further investigation. During the investigation, the officials have accessed some information including mobile documents. They are now trying to make further arrests, sources said.
Drugs also come into coastal Karnataka from Kerala, Kasargod, and Maharashtra etc by trains. It is said that some students travelling by trains get involved with drugs trade and earn by way of huge commissions. Ganja booking is also made through websites, emails and WhatsApp, it is said.
Karnataka State Women's Commission had urged the government sometime back to form a special team to tackle the issue of increased drugs habit among students in the city. But the government had not taken prompt measures.
During the lockdown period, all activities in India had come to a standstill. But drugs trade continued to flourish then, it is said. During the police investigation, audio records of youngsters pleading for MDMA through WhatsApp messages and voice records, have emerged. Previous investigations have revealed nexus between the drugs cartel with the disturbances and clashes happening at Bengaluru and coastal Karnataka.
The police team, which has arrested two relating to MDMA trafficking, plans to arrest some more. City police commissioner Vikash Kumar, said that narcotic and economic offences police station will be strengthened further to tackle the menace. He said that during the last two months, assets worth Rs 14.8 lac have been seized.