Drug Abuse

Heroin

The trafficking of heroin in India needs to be viewed in the perspective of India being situated between the Golden Crescent and the Golden Triangle. The Golden Triangle earlier encompassed poppy growing areas of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar. Massive eradication efforts and alternative development in the past few years have resulted in Thailand and Laos being considered "opium free". Cultivation of poppy in Myanmar is said to be much reduced. The Golden Crescent consisted of poppy growing areas of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran. However, the record production of an estimated 6,100 MT of opium in Afghanistan during 2006 overshadowed all other countries.

The heroin of Afghan origin meets the domestic demand in India, especially in large cities like Delhi and Mumbai. The pattern of seizures indicates that heroin of Afghan origin is also trafficked out of India to various countries. The quantity of opium produced in Afghanistan in any particular year does not substantially effect the pattern of trafficking in India because the flow of drugs from Afghanistan/Pakistan is dependent on several other factors. Nonetheless, a steady outflow of heroin from the Afghan epicentre forms an intrinsic part of the opium and heroin trafficking in the region.

The indigenous brown sugar manufactured in small illicit units in the opium growing areas of central India is trafficked within and outside the country to some destinations in the region.

During the year 2006, heroin seizures reported in the country aggregated to 1,182 kg.
 
Seizures of heroin during the last five years have been as under:

Some of the states which recorded significant seizures of heroin during 2006 were:

Significant Seizures of Heroin 2006

Significant Heroin Seizures during 2006   

CHANDIGARH (I)

HEROIN   

10 kg.

On 25.1.2006, officers of the Narcotics Control Bureau, Chandigarh apprehended one person at the bus stand and seized 10 kg. of heroin from his possession. The suspected source of the seized drug was Pakistan.

TAMIL NADU (2)

HEROIN

17.4 kg   

On 18/19.2.2006, officers of the Narcotics Control Bureau, Chennai intercepted a vehicle at Pudumadam seashore (Ramnathapuram) and seized 17.383 kg. of heroin. The drug was packed in two automobile batteries. The suspected destination of the seized drug was Sri Lanka. Three persons were arrested.

CHANDIGARH (3)

HEROIN      

19 kg

On 28.3.2006, officers of the Narcotics Control Bureau, Chandigarh in a joint operation with the Border Security Force, in Amritsar sector apprehended one person and seized 19 kg of heroin along with one Pakistani made pistol, two magazines and sixteen cartridges. He was arrested. The suspected source of the seized drug was Pakistan.

AMRITSAR (4)

HEROIN   

10 kg

On 30.3.2006, officers of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Amritsar intercepted one vehicle at Amritsar and seized I 0 kg. of heroin. The suspected source of the seized drug was Pakistan. One person was arrested.

HEROIN

CHENNAI (5)

15.6 kg.

On 24.5.2006, officers of the Narcotics Control Bureau, Chennai apprehended two persons including one Sri Lankan national and seized 15.6 kg. of heroin from their possession. Both the persons were arrested. The destination of the seized drug was Sri Lanka.

HEROIN 35 kg.

DELHI (6)

Cn 2.7.2006, officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, New Delhi apprehended two persons at Delhi and seized 35.144 kg. of heroin from their possession. Both the persons were arrested. The suspected source of the seized drug was Pakistan.

HEROIN 41 kg.

DELHI (7)

On 4.7.2006, officers of the Delhi Police apprehended four persons at Delhi and seized 41 kg. of heroin from their possession. All the four persons were arrested. The suspected source of the seized drug was Pakistan.

HEROIN    39.2 kg.

LUDHIANA (8)

On 19.7.2006, officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Ludhiana, intercepted a truck at Ludhiana and seized 39.25 kg. of heroin. One person was arrested. The suspected source of the seized drug was Afghanistan.

HEROIN 20 kg.

DELHI (9)

On 5.8.2006, officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Delhi apprehended one person at Delhi and seized 20 kg. of heroin from his possession. He was arrested. The suspected source of the seized drug was Afghanistan.

HEROIN    15 kg.

DELHI (10)

On 28.8.2006, officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, New Delhi intercepted a car at New Delhi and seized 15.059 kg. of heroin. Two persons were arrested. The suspected source of the seized drug was Afghanistan.

HEROIN    10 kg.

AMRITSAR (11)

On 2.10.2006, officers of the Border Security Force, seized 10.070 kg. of heroin near the Ind° Pak border in Ajnala sector. The suspected source of the seized drug was Pakistan. The seized drug was handed over to the Customs, Amritsar.

HEROIN    16 kg.   

CHENNAI (12)

On 4.10.2006, officers of the Narcotics Control Bureau, Chennai intercepted two vehicles at Ooty and seized 16.055 kg. of heroin. Four persons including one Sri Lankan national were arrested. The destination of the seized drug was Sri Lanka.

HEROIN    17 kg.   

DELHI (13)

On 9.10.2006, officers of the Delhi Police apprehended one person at Delhi and seized 17 kg. of heroin from his possession. He was arrested.

HEROIN    10.3 kg.   

CHENNAI (14)

On 10.10.2006, officers of the Narcotics Control Bureau, Chennai searched an hotel room in Tuticorin district, Tamil Nadu which resulted in the recovery and seizure of 10.27 kg. of heroin. Two persons were arrested. The destination of the seized drug was Sri Lanka.

HEROIN    25 kg.   

JAMMU (15)

On 19.12.2006, officer of the Customs, Jammu, in a joint operation with the BSF, apprehended one Pakistani national in R.S.Pura sector and seized 25 kg. of heroin from his possession. He was arrested. The suspected source of the seized drug was Pakistan.

Modus Operandi of Trafficking of Heroin

Heroin concealed in water container

Heroin in the luggage compartment of a car

Cavity in car door used for concealment of heroin

Heroin in a gas cylinder

Heroin in tricycle tyres

Heroin concealed in automobile batteries

Heroin in a plastic jerry can

Cannabis Herb (Ganja/Marijuana)

The term 'cannabis' generally means the flowering or fruiting tops of the cannabis plant from which the resin has not been extracted. This cannabis or cannabis herb (common Indian name being ganja) is a tobacco like greenish/brownish material, which is usually smoked. Ganja has various street names, the commonest being marijuana, hemp, grass, pot and sinsemilla.

By and large, the ganja available in any particular area meets the local demand. On account of its bulk, as also comparatively low value, there is no traffic of ganja out of the country. Even within the country, movement of ganja is restricted to some growing areas where the yield is much higher than the amount in demand locally. There is, however, trafficking of ganja from Nepal to India.

Aggravating factors in respect of the ganja scenario in Manipur is the fact that local consumption is negligible because of social disapproval. Most of the ganja produced, therefore, is 'exported' to the mainland states, by road. Ganja neatly compressed into packets of standard sizes has been seized often, indicating the use of equipment for compacting and packing; generally in watertight polythene sheeting.

In Arunachal Pradesh, cannabis is grown in several areas of Tirap and Changlang districts. Besides effecting seizures of ganja, enforcement agencies regularly undertake operations for the destruction of the cannabis plant, whether being cultivated in fields or growing in the wild or forest areas. Regular operations have been undertaken in Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Manipur, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Maharashtra by various enforcement agencies.

Seizures of cannabis herb during the last five years have been as under :-

States which recorded significant seizures of cannabis herb during 2006 were:

Significant Seizures of Cannabis Herb

CANNABIS HERB

3608 kg.

IMPHAL (1)

On 18.4.2006, officers of the Assam Rifles, Imphal, intercepted one truck at Imphal and seized 3608 kg. of cannabis herb. Two persons were arrested. The apprehended persons, along with the seized drug and vehicle, were handed over to the Narcotics Control Bureau,

CANNABIS HERB

3465 kg.   

IMPHAL (2)

On 23.4.2006, officers of the Assam Rifles, Imphal, intercepted a truck and seized 3465 kg. of cannabis herb. Two persons were arrested in this connection. The apprehended persons, along with the seized drug and vehicle, were handed over to the Narcotics Control Bureau, Imphal.

CANNABIS HERB

1853 kg.   

MAHARASHTRA (3)

On 9.5.2006, officers of the Maharashtra Police seized 1853 kg. of cannabis herb and arrested six persons at Ahmednagar.

CANNABIS HERB

5900 Kg.   

NAGALAND (4)

On 8.6.2006, officers of the Nagaland Police seized 5900 kg. of cannabis herb at Khuzama and arrested two persons.

CANNABIS HERB

2476.7 kg.   

MAHARASHTRA (5)

On 19.6.2006, officers of the Maharashtra Police seized 2476.7 kg. of unclaimed cannabis herb at Nashik.

CANNABIS HERB

2560 kg.   

DIMAPUR (6)

On 6.7.2006, officers of the Nagaland Police apprehended two persons at Dimapur and seized 2560 kg. of cannabis herb from their possession. Both the persons were arrested.

CANNABIS HERB

3885 kg.

IMPHAL (7)

On 19.7.2006, officers of the Assam Rifles, Imphal, intercepted one truck at Imphal and seized 3885 kg. of cannabis herb. Three persons were arrested. The apprehended persons, the truck and the seized drug were handed over to the Narcotics Control Bureau, Imphal.

CANNABIS HERB

5000 kg.   

MEGHALAYA (8)

On 5.9.2006, officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Kolkata intercepted one oil tanker near Jorabat, Meghalaya and seized 5000 kg. of cannabis herb.

CANNABIS HERB

2000 kg.   

NAGALAND (9)

On 8.9.2006, officers of the Nagaland Police intercepted a truck at Khuzama and seized 2000 kg. of cannabis herb. Two persons were arrested.

CANNABIS HERB   

3166 kg.

IMPHAL (10)

On 14.9.2006, officers of the Customs, Imphal intercepted a truck at Imphal and seized 3166 kg. of cannabis herb. Three persons were arrested.

CANNABIS HERB   

2746 kg.

MEGHALAYA (11)

On 28.11.2006, officers of the Customs, Shillong seized 2746 kg. of cannabis herb in East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya.

CANNABIS HERB

1689.5 kg.

MEGHALAYA (12)

On 11.12.2006, officers of the Customs, Shillong seized 1689.5 kg. of unclaimed cannabis herb from East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya. The likely destination of the seized drug was Bangladesh.

Cannabis Resin (Hashish/Charas)

Cannabis is believed to have been known to man since at least 6000 BC, with hemp being used for making cloth around 4000 BC in China. The cannabis plant grows in most parts of the world and ritual and/or recreational use of cannabis has been common in most parts of the world at one time or the other.

The cannabis plant, Cannabis sativa L., is a single plant species which exists in different morphological varieties. It is a cosmopolite annual plant/bush, growing widely throughout the temperate and tropical zones of the world. Cannabis is also cultivated in many areas of the world; having a commercial value on account of its coarse fibre, which is generally used for manufacture of rope and cloth. Its seeds yield a drying oil, which finds use in art and as a substitute for linseed oil.

All forms of cannabis are psychoactive drugs. The predominant active chemicals are tetrahydrocannabinols (THCs), which impart hallucinogenic properties to various parts of the plant.

Cannabis resin (charas) is the separated resin, which may be either in crude or purified form. This is obtained as a dried brown or black resinous substance by rubbing the flowering tops of the cannabis plant between the palms of the hand or on rubber sheeting. It is also produced by threshing or crushing dried herbal material to a powder or by boiling the plant material and removing resin from the surface of the water. Since the resin is in a solid form, it can be compressed into slabs or made into a fine powder, which facilitate transport.

The common street names of cannabis resin are charas, hashish and hash. Abuse patterns including oral ingestion and smoking, either alone or mixed with tobacco.

Cannabis oil is the concentrate of cannabis, obtained by extraction from cannabis or cannabis resin. It is a tar like brown or green viscous liquid which is extracted in a process similar to that used to percolate coffee. It goes by the common street names of honey oil or red oil. It can either be taken orally or smoked by impregnating tobacco with the oil.

Significant quantities of cannabis are grown in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, the northeastern states, Kerala and parts of several other states.

Charas is trafficked primarily from the states of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Nearly half of the seizures of charas in India are suspected to be sourced to Nepal. The destinations usually are Delhi, Munnbai and Goa. Some charas is trafficked to foreign destinations, especially western Europe. Cases of smuggling of charas to USA and Canada, both by air and sea, have also been reported. The commonest modus operandi is concealment in baggage and misdeclaration of legitimate export consignments.

Seizures of cannabis resin during the last five years in the country have been as under:-
(in kg.)

Some states which recorded significant seizures of cannabis resin during 2006 were:

Significant Seizures of Cannabis Resin   

CANNABIS RESIN

50 kg.

DELHI (I)

On 22.1.2006, officers of the Narcotics Control Bureau, Delhi apprehended one person and seized 50 kg. of cannabis resin. He was arrested. The suspected source of the seized drug was Nepal.

CANNABIS RESIN

100 kg.   

VARANASI (2)

On 23.3.2006, officers of the Narcotics Control Bureau, Varanasi intercepted a vehicle at Fatehpur and seized 100 kg. of cannabis resin. The drug was concealed in special cavities made in the vehicle. The suspected source of the seized drug was Nepal. Five persons were arrested.

CANNABIS RESIN

59 kg.   

AHMEDABAD (3)

On 3.5.2006, officers of the Narcotics Control Bureau, Ahmedabad intercepted a car at Ahmedabad and seized 58.75 kg. of cannabis resin. Two persons were arrested.

CANNABIS RESIN

180 kg.   

LUCKNOW (4)

On 28.5.2006, officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Lucknow intercepted one truck at Lucknow and seized 180 kg. of cannabis resin. The drug was concealed in specially fabricated cavities in the truck. The source of the seized drug was Nepal. Two persons were arrested.

CANNABIS RESIN    542 kg.

UTTAR PRADESH (5)

On 12.6.2006, officers of the Customs, Sonauli, Uttar Pradesh intercepted a truck at Sonauli and seized 541.86 kg. of cannabis resin. The suspected source of the seized drug was Nepal. One person was arrested.

CANNABIS RESIN

246 kg.

DELHI (6)

On 22.6.2006, officers of the Narcotics Control Bureau, Delhi intercepted one vehicle at Delhi and seized 246 kg. of cannabis resin. Three persons were arrested.

CANNABIS RESIN

265 kg.   

AHMEDABAD (7)

On 28.7.2006, officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Ahmedabad intercepted a truck at Ahmedabad and seized 262.97 kg. of cannabis resin. Four persons were arrested. In the subsequent search of the house of one of the arrested persons, 2.34 kg. more of cannabis resin was seized.

CANNABIS RESIN

80 kg.   

BIHAR (9)

On 21.9.2006, officers of the Narcotics Control Bureau, Varanasi in a joint operation with the Sashastra Seema Bal, seized 80 kg. of cannabis resin at Raxaul. The suspected source of the seized drug was Nepal. Three persons were arrested.

CANNABIS RESIN

112 kg.   

AHMEDABAD (10)

On 24.9.2006, officers of the Narcotics Control Bureau, Ahmedabad intercepted a truck near Anand and seized 111.88 kg. of cannabis resin. Two persons were arrested.

CANNABIS RESIN

52 kg.   

MUMBAI (II)

On 20.12.2006, officers of the Customs, Munnbai apprehended two persons (one Brazilian national and one Indonesian national) at CSI Airport, Mumbai and seized 52.25 kg. of cannabis resin from their possession. The destination of the seized drug was Amsterdam. Both the persons were arrested. In the follow up action, two more persons were arrested.

Record seizure of 200 kg of cocaine (3rd June, 2006 at Mumbai)   

Markings on seized cocaine

Methaqualone

Methaqualone (Mandrax) is a synthetically produced drug, which is abused mostly in South Africa. It is administered orally or smoked. The drug is a depressant.

An analysis of the seizure data shows that the illicit manufacture of methaqualone is not confined to any particular geographical area. The principal market for Mandrax remains South Africa and almost all the seizures made in the last three years were either en-route to South Africa or ultimately destined for that country.

Methaqualone is not abused in India but is illicitly manufactured for trafficking to Africa. India had witnessed large scale manufacture and trafficking of this drug in the early 1990s. Seizures during the last four years have been as under:
(in kg.)

It has been observed that illicit manufacture takes place in small chemical laboratories with makeshift infrastructure. Such illicit facilities have been detected at various times in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh.
Annual Report 2006

Seizures of Methaqualone

METHAQUALONE

DELHI

4400 kg.

On 27.8.2006, officers of the Delhi Police apprehended one person at Delhi and seized 4400 kg. of methaqualone powder from his possession. He was arrested.

METHAQUALONE

100 kg.   

MUMBAI

On 28/29.12.2006, officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Mumbai intercepted one export consignment declared to contain PVC belts, destined for Johannesburg, South Africa. Examination of the consignment resulted in the recovery and seizure of 100 kg. of methaqualone tablets hidden in the consignment.

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