‘India turning into major drug haven’

There are new trends in the way narcotics are moving into and through India and across the world, reoprts Aloke Tikku.

There are new trends in the way narcotics are moving into and through India and across the world. But a United Nations drugs watchdog’s report says there is one thing that does not appear to have changed: the big fish still manage to get off the hook.

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The International Narcotics Control Board had in its report 11 years ago noted that many law enforcement agencies did not have the resources or skill to do more than apprehend street sellers. “Eleven years later, that still appears to be the case in many countries,” the INCB’s latest report released on Wednesday said.

The agency noted that South Asia is being targeted for cocaine trafficking, and that international syndicates have been using India as a major transit point for Europe-bound consignments and also as a destination country.

Narcotics Control Bureau chief K C Verma, however, suggested trafficking in cocaine was not as serious a problem. The report said cocaine seizures continued to occur with regularity in 2007, usually about 1 kg per month.