DailyPost 2938
DELHI DRUG CASES – HOW BIG IS THE DRUG RACKET?
The two recent cases in Delhi, one from Mahipalpur and other from Ramesh Nagar in less than a fortnight has once again put the focus back on the nature and quantum of drug trade in this country. Has it been increasing or is it showing a downward trend? Might be we don’t have validated criteria to work on it and come to even any guesstimate. Not being able to get well researched data on agreed upon methodology / parameters has remained a challenge over the years. Some precise data on the quantum of consumption in different cities or core consumption areas also remain a challenge.
The two Delhi cases can be treated as one, as the information and seizure of the first case has led to the second seizure. The first case pertains 560 kgs of cocaine and 40 kgs of hydroponic marijuana, with an estimated value of Rs.5,600 crores. What is intriguing is that hydroponic marijuana has been caught for the first time. One would certainly like to fathom whether this is really of recent origin or it has remained off the radar of the agencies. In the second case, 200 kgs of cocaine was seized at an estimated cost of Rs.2,000 crores. The second case emanates from the first one.
Given the size, complexity, tech and maturity of operations of the drug cartels concerned, it cannot be treated as a one off game, which Delhi Police has been able to lay its hands on. That the tip off was from central intelligence agencies in the month of August 2024 and it worked upon meticulously in a near full proof manner, and the result is for all of us to see. Whether the seizures give any idea of the quantum of drug trade would be dangerous to guess. The other issue is whether even in big cities of the country, do the concerned police have the wherewithal to deal with such cases end to end.
The reality is either the central agency does the job itself, or shares actionable intelligence to make it happen. It would be one odd exception, if it were to happen, that Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru take a collaborated, coordinated and effective action against the drug racket. They certainly are consumption areas or provide safe passage. Collaboration of state polices for a greater cause is not our common destiny. Tech has made operations even more complicated for the law enforcement agencies; coded, encrypted message, GPS enablement, drones, for sure software and of their type to support. Even in the current cases the front-end guys have been caught, one main guy has escaped and the kingpin in Dubai remains out of reach for now. Do we know the whole racket and racketeers to crack on them convincingly? Or do we keep doing one off cases and bloat in its glory.
HOW BIG IS THE DRUG MENACE WE ARE IN AND IS THEIR WAY OUT OF THIS PREDICAMENT WITH OUR PRESENT CAPABILITIES?
Sanjay Sahay
Have a nice evening.