Cops seize 4,425 kg drug this year

With the booming population in the national Capital, the consumption of drugs has also increased in the city with Delhi Police having recovered more than 4,425 kg of drugs costing Rs 1.7 billion in the international market, this year alone.

Till December 15, 271 cases were registered under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act out of which 62 cases were registered by Crime Branch. “This year there has been an increase of 111 per cent in the seizures of ganja as 3763 kg of ganja, costing around Rs 1.12 billion has been recovered,” said a senior police official in Crime Branch. Out of the seizures, South-west district police have recovered 1,616.742 kg of ganja and Crime Branch has seized around 1,121 kg.

The Capital has also emerged as a major supplier of pseudo-ephedrine, the key raw material for manufacturing Amphetamine Type Stimulant (ATS), whose variants are popularly known as ecstasy, speed, base, and ice in party drug circles.

According to the data in possession of Millennium Post, cocaine worth Rs 15 crore has been seized by the Delhi Police. The seizures include 0.0006 kg Ecstasy, 0.0007  kg LSD, 0.0009 kg Psychotropic, 51.019 kg M Powder, 50.200 Ephedrine, 1.000 Alprazolam and 1.998 Amphetamine.

“The easy availability of pseudo-ephedrine has jet-fueled Delhi’s rave parties. ATS substances are a hit with party-goers, who feel the need to energise themselves for dancing through the night. ATS substances have even displaced cocaine, the drug of choice for the Capital’s swish set, because they are relatively inexpensive and easily available,” a police officer said.

The population of the elite class in the city has gone up considerably, leading to a rise in the consumption of drugs. But these days, youngsters belonging to the middle class are also getting attracted towards drugs because of the growing influence of western culture in India,” another official added.