Thannganing Hungyo
Dimapur | March 16
GANJA SMUGGLERS from the region are taking up more innovative and ‘clever’ ways of transporting the soft drug into more lucrative markets such as Bihar. The dope peddlers now dispatch their contraband in smaller qualities in their attempts to give law enforcement agencies the slip more than often. The surreptitious bandits conceal their consignments by putting into use ‘unsuspecting’ vehicles with VIP lights, government number plates and other contraptions which emanate from novel criminal minds. Instead of heavier vehicles, the marijuana runners now use lighter cars to carry 300-400 kg of the contraband, Police say.
While a kilo fetches a price of somewhere between Rs 200-300 in Senapati, the market value for the same is at around Rs 2000 in Bihar. The traffickers also cover “all kacha and pakka roads and also go through jungles to avoid Police and ‘underground check posts.’”
Though the use of marijuana, a psychotropic drug, is not as commonplace in the North East, when compared to other parts of the country, the region is notorious for growing and trafficking of hemp. Ukhrul District in Manipur is believed to be the highest producer of good quality ganja in the region, soliciting an available market outside of the North East.
Joyce Angami of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime reveals that north-easterners do not usually get involved in the potent preparation used chiefly for smoking but indulge in pharmaceutical drugs such as pills and heroin. Though ‘weed’ is easily accessible, drug users from the seven sister states, and Sikkim, prefer harder drugs, she makes known.
Interestingly, marijuana that comes mostly from Manipur is compressed and packed in Shirupathar, Assam, situated at a short distance from Lahorijan near Dimapur, according to data compiled by the UNODC.
Crime syndicates and even underground groups are said to be involved in the lucrative trade. “Naga national workers” are also believed to be involved. If not directly, they provide clandestine patronage to the runners, according to Police.
Among the druglords in the ‘most wanted’ list is Paki Mia, an offender sought by Assam Police for committing crimes to the extent of murder. Mia is believed to shuttle between Guwahati and Kolkata.
Morung Express News
