Pubdate: Fri, 25 Jun 2010
Source: Times of India, The (India)
Copyright: Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. 2010
Contact:  http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/453
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

CHILDREN FORM VITAL PART OF DRUG PEDDLERS' NETWORK

VARANASI: Do not be surprised if you come across young children 
selling hash (ganja) and cannabis (bhang) to visitors including 
foreign tourists who throng prominent ghats on the banks of the holy 
Ganga in the city.

Children form a strong network of drug peddlers in the region. Even 
drives and raids by the Narcotics Control Bureau and city police have 
failed to work as deterrent for them, as the practice continues 
unabated especially along the ghats. According to narcotics control 
office, 15.57 kg heroin was recovered in 2007, while last year, 
authorities had seized over 20 kg of the illegal stuff.

Similarly, recovery of ganja increased from nearly 275 kg (2007) to 
around 350 kg in 2009.

The recovery of other intoxicants like charas, cocaine, smack, medax 
and diazepam pills and powder show that they are also in use in the 
region. Neighbouring districts like Chandauli and Bhadohi have 
emerged as prominent centres of illicit drugs trafficking. SP (city) 
Vijay Bhushan said that police had recently conducted a number of 
drives in which large amounts of hard drugs were recovered. "We are 
keeping a close vigil on the situation to control the drug abuse and 
illicit trafficking," he added.

According to police, ganja is supplied to the region from the north 
east areas and Nepal via Bihar and Jharkhand borders. Heroin is being 
manufactured in neighbouring districts and supplied to the cities 
like Varanasi. A senior police officer confided that actual inflow of 
drugs could be 10 to 20 times higher than the quantities seized in the region.

As per recent reports of the district excise department, the 
consumption of ganja and bhang is about 40,000 kg in the district and 
these substances generate are in huge demand among the tourists and 
students in the region.
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