Foreign students selling drugs: Shimla Cops

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 1

The arrest of a foreign student by the Shimla police has exposed their involvement in drug peddling. A 25-year-old student of a private university in Shimla, a national of Democratic Republic of Congo, was arrested at Mehli on May 29 with 3.19 grams of chitta (heroin). He was a retailer in the drug chain.

Following a tip-off from the Congo national, the police yesterday arrested 41-year-old Juliet, a Cameroon national, at Shoghi and recovered 206 grams of chitta from her possession. Investigation revealed that she was a wholesaler and was frequently visiting Shimla with drugs for the past one and a half months, said ASP Praveer Thakur.

Both foreigners were supplying drugs to 10 to 50 clients in Shimla district and Juliet had roped in other people in the drug chain. She used to stay in a hotel in Fingask Estate in the capital city and was regularly smuggling drugs from Delhi. The cost of one gram of chitta is Rs 4,000 but it is supplied for Rs 2,000, implying that it is further diluted, police sources said.

It is the first case where foreigners were themselves supplying drugs as earlier local peddlers were bringing drugs from Delhi. The accused used to travel by bus or take lift in vehicles to reach Shimla. They have been remanded in four day police custody.

Earlier, Nigerians supplied chitta in the state but now nationals of other African countries are involved in the illegal trade. The police are enquiring about their passport details and the possibility of the passports being fake or expired cannot be ruled out.