Highway to hell

With another ‘International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking’ here, the hope of freeing the world of drug abuse is being reiterated. As for Bengaluru, the supply and consumption of drugs is rampant in the City, with the cops clueless on containing it.

Peddlers sell psychedelic drugs like MDMA, charas, marijuana, hash and Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) or blotting paper by the roadside, unmindful of the surprise raids police claim to be carrying out at regular intervals.

     Drugs are consumed at most rave parties, concerts, farmhouse parties and those that happen in some of the five-star hotels.  
 
Top cops with the Bangalore Central Crime Branch and Narcotics Intelligence concede that it is indeed difficult to crack the supply chain that begins and ends with individual peddlers.

     A senior officer with the Bangalore Central Crime Branch (CCB) in the City says psychedelic drugs like MDMA, LSD and weed are consumed in small quantities such as one or two grams.

      “The quantities are small and consumed as soon as they are delivered. During our surprise raids at parties, we only find people on a high but aren’t able to catch the peddler red-handed. The stuff is already consumed and evidence is destroyed,” points out a senior officer with the CCB.

He further states that in addition to supplying drugs to neighbouring states, including Goa, the drugs are also brought in from Chennai, Mangaluru and Goa.

      “These are also places that are closer to the sea port. It is also brought in by car or handed over to someone driving down from these places or neatly packed in luggage bags and transported by bus because there is not much checking in overnight buses,” he adds.

Most event management companies that organise Electronic Dance Music (EDM) concerts of popular artistes, across the City, claim to have caught people who walk in to the pub with drugs tucked in their pockets and socks as well.

     Raaj Gowda, who owns Eternity Entertainment, says that he has spotted youngsters less than 21 years of age consume drugs at EDM parties and at parties in high end hotels.

    “During our EDM concerts, we thoroughly frisk those who enter but in five- star hotels bouncers can’t check VVIPs,” says Raaj.

     He also thinks that the cops are aware of what is going on but choose to turn a blind eye to it.

According to Narcotics Control Bureau, areas in Bengaluru like Indiranagar, MG Road, Brigade Road, Whitefield, Banaswadi, Kammanahalli, Ulsoor and parts of Majestic are
notorious for selling drugs.

Sunil Kumar Sinha, zonal director  Narcotics Control Bureau (Bengaluru), explains, “In a month, we conduct surprise raids on rave parties, farmhouses and high end hotels, we find that people have now started designing and customising drug usage. For music rave parties, they consume LSD and for dance, they consume MDMA and Cannabis (a mix of ganja and hash). Both these drugs act as great stimulants but it is difficult to catch them red-handed,” he explains.

    He further states that cocaine is also mixed with several other drugs to attain the desired ecstasy.

   “Most of these drugs peddlers are found around areas that have a lot of colleges, hotels and parties. We crack down on two to three cases a month,” he adds.  
 Tames AJ, a professional and a party-goer, observes that the demand and supply of drugs seems to have escalated in the City.

    He says, “Yes, drugs are distributed at these parties and there are people who fall prey to consuming these drugs. I’ve noticed that those who are depressed and under tremendous peer pressure fall into the trap of drug peddlers.”

Tames also thinks imparting awareness on the ill-effects of drugs at school and college level can go a long way in eliminating the problem among youngsters.