Manish Pachouly
MUMBAI: When we talk about narcotics, we draw the picture of Mexican and Colombian drug mafias in our minds. This is obvious because they are among the world’s biggest narcotics dealers and are considered to be the most ruthless.
However, in this big picture that became further popular since the launch of OTT platforms having various shows on narcotics, we tend to overlook our neighbourhood. At times we may not know if a person buying a smoke from a local pan shop bought a narcotics substance. Besides, many unsuspecting families remain clueless about their children frequenting late-night parties to have their doses of cocaine, ecstasy, mephedrone, or any other narcotics substance.
The trend seems to be moving upwards corresponding with the rise in spending power. Those who cannot afford cocaine consume mephedrone or other cheaper synthetic drugs. The ones who cannot afford any of these settle for high doses of codeine-based cough syrups.
All and much more has been highlighted in a study conducted by an expert in narcotics investigation who prefers anonymity. The study conducted sometime back highlights the trends in Mumbai, modus operandi, and the type of drugs prevalent in different localities of the city.
Recent Trends in Mumbai
Pointing out growing drug abuse in high society, the study finds a resurgence of hashish consumption in the city besides mephedrone that is simultaneously finding demand in Pune. Hydroponic weed too is witnessing growing demand among addicts.
According to the study, there have been rising instances of trafficking of marijuana via courier and post, declared as emergency food, organic and green teas. Not only in Mumbai but synthetic drugs are also finding the courier route for smuggling to Australia and New Zealand.
Rail and road networks are being highly used by drug traffickers to smuggle charas from Jammu and Kashmir to Mumbai. The study says that trucks and bikes are the most preferred modes of transporting charas from J&K.
What is further concerning is the sale of drug-infused cakes and brownies that makes it easy for the addicts to maintain anonymity. Talking about anonymity, the study mentions the growing instances of the sale and purchase of narcotics through the dark web with payments made in cryptocurrency. Among the most popular narcotics substances on the dark web are found to be hydroponic weed and LSD.
Areas of Concern in Mumbai
The study also delves into the areas of concern in the city mentioning the types of substances used there. Upmarket areas including Bandra, Versova, and Lokhandwala (both in Andheri west) have been observed to be using expensive drugs like LSD, cocaine, mephedrone, and hydroponic weed.
Other upper-middle-class areas like Powai, Sahar, and Chandivali are found to be the hub of Nigerians staying illegally and peddling cocaine, methamphetamine (a stimulant), and mephedrone. Areas like Kurla and Chembur are said to be witnessing the use of mephedrone, heroin, and hashish, the study points out.
Economically weaker areas where spending power is comparatively low settle for a cheaper way of getting high. The study says that Dongri, Agripada, Nagpada, Sion, Dharavi, and Mankhurd, among others, largely use codeine-based syrups. Some parts also witness the use of hashish, charas, methamphetamine, and heroin.
When asked, IRS officer Sameer Wankhede who is associated with the ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan’ said that narcotics smuggling and terrorism are interrelated. He said the money used for narco smuggling is the same money used in spreading terrorism. “Gone are the days when our enemy and threat was charas and ganja. Now we are looking at the bigger enemy in the form of foreign drugs and the use of the dark web and cryptocurrency.”
Crime Alert 