Drugs make a comeback in city as lockdown curbs ease

Chennai

Though it was the biggest haul of drugs by the city police during the lockdown, it was not an isolated case. Instances of ganja peddlers being nabbed have often been reported, indicating that the lockdown has not stopped the movement of drugs in the city and its suburbs.

The Narcotics Intelligence Bureau (NIB)-CID of Kancheepuram, for its part, seized 4 kg dry ganja from a Kerala registration car on May 23, whereas Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Chennai Unit, seized 2.5 kg Ephedrine in Guindy on May 28. The consignment, supposed to be sent to Australia, was concealed in the cavity between inner and outer walls of seven stainless steel milk cookers. Also, just before the lockdown on March 21, NCB arrested a man with 91 Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) stamps at Purasawalkam.

An NIB official in Chennai unit, when contacted, admitted that the drug movement, which became lull in the first phase of the lockdown due to strict vehicle checks, has seen a rise in the

last few weeks. “In the first phase, peddlers either smuggled ganja into Tamil Nadu from Andhra Pradesh on bikes or sold their old stock for an increased price to meet the demand. However, with the ease in lockdown and increased vehicle movement, smugglers have returned to their old ways to smuggle the contraband in huge quantities from neighbouring states. We have increased vigil on the border and have plans to conduct surprise vehicle checks,” he said.

Meanwhile, an NCB official did not rule out the possibility of purchasing drugs through darknet. “They opt it for secrecy. Moreover, LSD is easy to smuggle as it is in the paper form. But we have not received any intelligence yet about the drugs being smuggled in big quantities,” he said.

It may be recalled that a 24-year-old man was hacked to death near Red Hills by a five-member gang in a dispute over purchasing of ganja on April 23. A few days later, another 18-year-old was murdered in Tiruvottiyur in a similar dispute involving ganja sale. Also, a food delivery boy became a drug peddler as he was deprived of regular income due to the lockdown.