A large number of youths, including several college students from well off families, get stoned in different areas of the city as the sun sets. The youths smoke marijuana and hashish supplied by pushers with a strong network across the city.
Malana cream, a popular variety of hashish which is brought from Himachal Pradesh, is in high demand among the youths, an STF source said, pointing out that the youths took regular mountain cannabis only if they didn’t get the Malana brand. Ten grams of Malana variety costs Rs 1,600, while the regular variety costs between Rs 600 to Rs 700.
In spite of its high cost, Malana is most preferred among the users. The addicted youths pay any price for 10 gms of hashish or marijuana when they crave for it. “Among the youths slipping into drug addiction, mostly belong to well off families and are living away from their parents in hostels,” the source added.
If sources are to be believed,
network of drug trafficking gangs ‘flourish’ in Mehuwala, Selaqui, Morowala and in areas having several hostels. During interrogation, information provided by peddlers recently arrested by STF, have given crucial leads to the STF team working to eliminate the traffickers’ gangs in town.
The STF has also got to know that in the beginning, the youths start smoking hashish for recreation. Smoking cannabis for many days at a without break gets them hooked. The sleuths also observe that it is always best to work on the source than the destination in such cases.
A senior sleuth, involved in operation against the drug peddling gangs, said, “Drug trafficking is the most heinous crime as it spoils lives of several youths. I always work hard to eliminate the trafficking gangs.” Recalling a remark by parents of a youth, he said, “We watch our son dying everyday. It is very painful.”
Sources in the STF said that its team has prepared lists of the areas where marijuana and hashish were supplied. The team is also keeping a vigil on the several hostels where a large number of youths are using these substances.
The STF team has formulated a strategy to crack down on the trafficking gangs. “We are working on a strategy to eliminate the drug trafficking network. Soon, there will be a big crackdown,” a sleuth, who doesn’t wish to be quoted, said, adding that the STF already busted three trafficking gangs in recent past.
STF SSP Senthil Akdai Krishnaraj S said that a team was working to eliminate the drug trafficking network in the city. In recent past, the team arrested several peddlers. He indicated that the team was in touch with its counterpart in different neighbouring States to root out the drug trafficking gangs.