E-Paper
Malana hasish, drugs meant for ‘rave parties’ seized in Kolkata; disc jockey, traffickers nabbed
The seized drugs were meant for use at rave parties that are clandestinely organised around Christmas and New Year, said NCB officers.
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Sunday night seized a huge quantity of high grade Malana hasish and drugs such as LSD and Ecstasy during raids in Kolkata. Three people, including the disc jockey of a posh night club, were arrested.
The seized drugs, NCB officers learnt from the traffickers, were meant for use at rave parties that are clandestinely organised around Christmas and New Year.
Information gathered by NCB officers during investigation indicate that rave parties, though almost unheard of till a decade ago, have become popular in Kolkata in recent years.
Read: Narco-tourism in Himachal’s Kasol: Take action, HC tells state govt
DK Srivastava, NCB director (east zone) said about 2.5 kilos of Malana hashish and so-called party drugs including LSD were seized in huge quantities. Malana hasish is popular around the world as ‘Malana Cream’ and considered the purest of all forms hasish comes in.
Nikhil Lakhwani, the arrested DJ, works at a moderately new but popular night club in central Kolkata. The two others have been identified as Henry Lawrence Manna and Roberts Dixon. All of them allegedly supply drugs to “high-profile” customers, said Srivastava.
Read: No straightjacket formula for grant of bail in drug seizure cases: HC
Srivastava said seizures were made from Sealdah station as well as the nightclub where Nikhil works. “We suspect that the hasish and drugs were brought to Kolkata from Kulu (Himachal Pradesh) by a man who goes by the name Pedro. Raids will continue at different nightclubs during the coming party season,” he added.
“Some prominent people from the glamour world figure among the buyers and they are also part of the supply module. They are reportedly seen at these rave parties,” said an NCB officer.
Read: Drug seizure: Onus on accused to prove whether he is addict or trafficker, rules HC
With rave parties becoming popular in Kolkata, demand for narcotics and banned party drugs has gone up. “Since most of these parties are held in houses of high-profile people it often becomes difficult to conduct raids. But Sunday’s seizure will help us nab all members of this module,” the officer added.
