Is state the new int’l drug hub?

From Latin America and South East Asia, the international narcotics cartel, dealing in synthetic drugs, seems to have shifted attention to India – Maharashtra to be precise – as their manufacturing base.

From Latin America and South East Asia, the international narcotics cartel, dealing in synthetic drugs, seems to have shifted attention to India – Maharashtra to be precise – as their manufacturing base.

HT Image

NCB zonal director, Yashodhan Wanage, while admitting to the fact, said India could have been chosen as the base for two reasons.

“Firstly, India’s massive pharmaceutical base ensures availability of every chemical necessary to prepare synthetic drugs. Secondly, the gigantic industrial base makes availability of all machinery and expertise to set up illegal units in sick and dead units in camouflage.”

From interrogation of those arrested from these units, the NCB has learnt that they had no intention of pushing the contraband locally.

“It was entirely meant for export to the international market,” said Wanage. India does not have a party culture (only restricted to pockets in some metros) while in the US and Western Europe, the expensive party drugs, which are stimulants, are in great demand. A single tablet (weighing about a gram) is sold for Rs 12,000 in the international market. Moreover, the secret will be out if the drug is pushed locally, Wanage added.