J&K turns Mumbai’s ‘top charas supplier’

Shiv Kumar

Tribune News Service

Mumbai, November 6

Jammu and Kashmir has replaced Himachal Pradesh as the main supply point of charas to Mumbai and other cities in western India, according to police sources here.

While the variety of charas coming from J&K is hard and black, that coming from Himachal is soft and of light colour. Even the names appended to the contraband by addicts and suppliers are as colourful. Charas from J&K is called “kala sabun” while that from HP is called “rabid”.

Officials from the anti-narcotics cell of the police say the charas entering western India from J&K is produced in the troubled border districts of Baramulla and Anantnag. The supply is arranged through a well-organised network of smugglers. The charas originating from Himachal is grown in Mandi area of Manali and goes by the name “Malana Crème” since cultivation happens in the relatively inaccessible village of Malana.

“Malana Creme used to be brought to Mumbai by Israeli and western tourists who swapped it for synthetic drugs. But a crackdown by the Himachal authorities has restricted its supply,” says a police officer, adding that on the other hand, supply from J&K continues unabated.

This year so far, the Mumbai police have reportedly seized 44 kg charas as against 4.12 kg last year. Security agencies have for long flagged the smuggling of drugs from J&K as one of the financial resources for terror funding.