Nepalese ‘charas’ in demand

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 22

The state is becoming a choice destination for narcotic smugglers due to high quality marijuana (cannabis) being produced in some parts of the state.

As the demand for cannabis (charas) is going up and the production is declining due to measures taken by the police against drug traffickers, a new trend of importing cannabis from Nepal and selling it as Himachali brand is emerging.

The trend surfaced with the recovery of 5 kg of charas from two Nepali nationals, arrested by the police during a special drive.

A Nepalese couple, carrying charas from Mahindergarh in Nepal to be delivered to some dealer in Narkanda, were arrested from a bus and their interrogation exposed the racket.

SP, Shimla, DW Negi said the people in Himachal were affluent and as the prices of cannabis were high, it was being imported from Nepal which was cheaper.

Shimla district ranks fourth in the state after Kullu, Mandi and Chamba in cannabis production and Theog, Chopal, Rohru, Matiana and Narkanda are the hub of cannabis in the district.

In 2016, 80 cases have been registered under the NDPS Act and 28 kg of charas, 4 kg of poppy husk, 5.10 gm of opium, 4.2 grams of heroin, 2,000 tablets of nitrosun 10,225 bottles of cough syrup and 100 capsules have been seized and 85 persons in the age group of 18-30 arrested. Of the 80 cases, 61 have been registered during the special drive against drugs peddlers, which started on February 2 and will continue till February 24. Negi disclosed that most drug peddlers are the youth and the target group is also the youth studying in schools and colleges. The Sanjauli-Dhalli belt had emerged as the hunting ground for drug dealers and carriers.