![]() Research suggests that treatment of addicts is the most effective way of reducing demand and consumption at the least cost. “The supply lines have been choked, and the government is implementing an EDP strategy (enforcement, de-addiction and prevention), which is comprehensive action against drug abuse. Harpreet Sidhu, ADGP-cum-STF chief, believes rehabilitation is paramount in bringing down the demand. In the Indian market, however, it is sold for Rs 10-20 lakh per kg at different stages, and eventually for Rs 1 crore in western countries.” However, the challenge will not be overcome till the demand is curbed.”Ī Punjab Police official who has been handling drugs cases, but did not want to be identified, told The Tribune, “Indian smugglers during interrogation have told us that they are supplied heroin by Pakistan smugglers at Rs 4 lakh per kg now, which is down from Rs 10 lakh earlier. There is also increased vigil by Punjab Police and other agencies. At the same time, however, a couple of additional battalions were posted at the border, which prevented a corresponding increase in smuggling. This brought down the basic price of the contraband, resulting in more attempts at smuggling. Mohinderjit Singh also points to another factor, “Over the past year, the production of opium increased significantly in Afghanistan. He, however, points out that the high number of arrests shows security agencies are making an effort to check the flow. Till then, demand from such addicts will keep the supply chain running.” One who needs the drug will arrange it anyhow it takes up to two years for a heroin addict to give up fully. “Smugglers will keep at it as long as there is demand. Mohinderjit Singh, Zonal Director of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Chandigarh, says the issue has to be seen in the context of demand and supply. The fact that there are suppliers still in business, and their rates have gone up, indicates that the demand for drugs continues. His brother, father and grandfather were also said to have been in the same profession, and seem unable to change the vocation. However, the increased vigil has not deterred people like Gurlal. Officials of the BSF, Punjab Police, STF and the NCB say the rate of supplying heroin in Punjab has shot up from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh per kg, which is an indication of how risky the business has become. ![]() Over the past four years of Punjab’s battle against drugs - launched after the 2014 election - various security agencies have clamped down in different ways on the business that alleged smuggler and former DSP Jagdish Bhola had claimed to be worth Rs 6,000 crore a year. The National Crime Records Bureau in its 2016-17 report said more than 90 per cent of those arrested for smuggling were repeat offenders. For all of last year, the figure was around 13,000 - 35 a day. As many as 2,573 persons were arrested by Punjab Police till March 15 this year - which is 34 a day. While this is an indicator of rates for peddling having shot up over the past year, the number of drug peddlers on the job seems to have remained consistent. He had also received the consignment from across the border, but was supplying it further at a commission of Rs 2 lakh per kg. In March this year, a team of the Special Task Force (STF) formed by the Capt Amarinder Singh government to check drug smuggling nabbed Parminder’s brother Gurlal Singh with 40 kg of heroin. He was said to have received a commission of Rs 60,000 per kg for transporting it further. A year and a half ago, Parminder Singh of Manjh village in Majitha, Amritsar, was caught for smuggling 17-kg heroin into Punjab from across the International Border.
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