<div>The drug network in Bengaluru has spread its tentacles so far and wide that it needs a robust response from the city police machinery. Proposed is a separate narcotic squad under every Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) / Superintendent of Police to track the vast drug peddling network.<br /><br />A senior police officer, preferring anonymity, explains the rationale behind such squads in all frankness: “Currently, the police fail to keep a track of repeat offenders as they are occupied with too many other tasks.” <br /><br />But the men in khaki have gathered enough information to grasp the enormity of the drug abuse problem in Bengaluru. Squads, they hope, will help the police synergise various faculties and address the issue with more focus. <br /><br />Here’s what they know about the basic profile of a young drug addict in the City: Youngsters between 20 and 30 years of age are the most affected. Seventy per cent of them are male, and surprisingly, 50% of the lot are foreigners. <br /><br />Disposing seized drugs<br />Once caught by the police, they are sent to a rehabilitation centre at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS). The Drug Disposal Committed under DCPs/SP are expected to store the seized materials in a godown till the cases are finally disposed of irrespective of the time taken. Rules mandate that the concerned committee should obtain permission from the magistrate after the case is disposed of and the material is destroyed in a furnace.<br /><br />Existing laws are stringent enough to deal with drug peddling. Suspects will not be able to get bail at least for six months. Punishment is rigorous imprisonment for a period ranging from three to seven years. Foreigners caught in the crime are deported to their countries and their names blacklisted to prevent their re-entry into India. <br /><br />Now, what are these drugs really about and how do they become illegal and banned substances?<br /><br />Experts say drugs are medicines/substances that give a physiological effect when ingested or otherwise introduced into the body. The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, bans the sale, transportation and consumption of certain types of drugs in the country. These are the drugs that youngsters seek for various reasons. <br /><br />Some of these drugs are prepared from the extracts of flowers and buds of certain plants. Some others are prepared by mixing chemicals with other substances. Once the person who consumes it gets addicted, long-lasting effects begin to manifest.<br /><br />Ganja and Cannabis <br />Cannabis plant’s flower and buds are used to prepare ganja. The plant’s buds and flower are used to prepare a substance that has the appearance of an adhesive. This is called charras. The powder prepared from the extracts of buds and flower is called brown sugar though its colour is white. Heroin is another type of brown sugar.<br /><br />Cocaine is a white coloured powder prepared from the extracts of coca plants and leaves. Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is typically either swallowed or held under the tongue. It is often sold on blotter paper, a sugar cube, or gelatin. MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is prepared by adding several other chemicals to a substance. <br /><br />Opium<br />Opium is another drug prepared from the extracts of poppy leaves. Ketamine is a type of chemical and many other substances are added to prepare a drug for consumption.<br /><br />The police have categoried LSD, MDMA and Ketamine as party drugs since they are used by many in parties organised at reputed hotels and joints on the city’s outskirts. They are also termed as executive drugs as they are prohibitively expensive. Other drugs such as cocaine, heroin, opium, brown sugar, hashish, charras are classified below executive drugs. These are mostly preferred by college students and professionals.<br /><br />Ganja is at the bottom of the list, is often treated as an ordinary drug available at cheaper prices. All these drugs are sold discreetly in the city in the form of oil, powder, crystal or adhesive. Some are injected directly into the bloodstream, others are orally consumed and some others are inhaled. <br /><br /><br /></div>
<div>The drug network in Bengaluru has spread its tentacles so far and wide that it needs a robust response from the city police machinery. Proposed is a separate narcotic squad under every Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) / Superintendent of Police to track the vast drug peddling network.<br /><br />A senior police officer, preferring anonymity, explains the rationale behind such squads in all frankness: “Currently, the police fail to keep a track of repeat offenders as they are occupied with too many other tasks.” <br /><br />But the men in khaki have gathered enough information to grasp the enormity of the drug abuse problem in Bengaluru. Squads, they hope, will help the police synergise various faculties and address the issue with more focus. <br /><br />Here’s what they know about the basic profile of a young drug addict in the City: Youngsters between 20 and 30 years of age are the most affected. Seventy per cent of them are male, and surprisingly, 50% of the lot are foreigners. <br /><br />Disposing seized drugs<br />Once caught by the police, they are sent to a rehabilitation centre at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS). The Drug Disposal Committed under DCPs/SP are expected to store the seized materials in a godown till the cases are finally disposed of irrespective of the time taken. Rules mandate that the concerned committee should obtain permission from the magistrate after the case is disposed of and the material is destroyed in a furnace.<br /><br />Existing laws are stringent enough to deal with drug peddling. Suspects will not be able to get bail at least for six months. Punishment is rigorous imprisonment for a period ranging from three to seven years. Foreigners caught in the crime are deported to their countries and their names blacklisted to prevent their re-entry into India. <br /><br />Now, what are these drugs really about and how do they become illegal and banned substances?<br /><br />Experts say drugs are medicines/substances that give a physiological effect when ingested or otherwise introduced into the body. The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, bans the sale, transportation and consumption of certain types of drugs in the country. These are the drugs that youngsters seek for various reasons. <br /><br />Some of these drugs are prepared from the extracts of flowers and buds of certain plants. Some others are prepared by mixing chemicals with other substances. Once the person who consumes it gets addicted, long-lasting effects begin to manifest.<br /><br />Ganja and Cannabis <br />Cannabis plant’s flower and buds are used to prepare ganja. The plant’s buds and flower are used to prepare a substance that has the appearance of an adhesive. This is called charras. The powder prepared from the extracts of buds and flower is called brown sugar though its colour is white. Heroin is another type of brown sugar.<br /><br />Cocaine is a white coloured powder prepared from the extracts of coca plants and leaves. Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is typically either swallowed or held under the tongue. It is often sold on blotter paper, a sugar cube, or gelatin. MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is prepared by adding several other chemicals to a substance. <br /><br />Opium<br />Opium is another drug prepared from the extracts of poppy leaves. Ketamine is a type of chemical and many other substances are added to prepare a drug for consumption.<br /><br />The police have categoried LSD, MDMA and Ketamine as party drugs since they are used by many in parties organised at reputed hotels and joints on the city’s outskirts. They are also termed as executive drugs as they are prohibitively expensive. Other drugs such as cocaine, heroin, opium, brown sugar, hashish, charras are classified below executive drugs. These are mostly preferred by college students and professionals.<br /><br />Ganja is at the bottom of the list, is often treated as an ordinary drug available at cheaper prices. All these drugs are sold discreetly in the city in the form of oil, powder, crystal or adhesive. Some are injected directly into the bloodstream, others are orally consumed and some others are inhaled. <br /><br /><br /></div>
