Women's rising role in Punjab's drug trade sparks concern
Almost 20 women drug peddlers have been nabbed in the recent times by Ferozepur Police in the district alone
If the recent seizures by the police are any indication, the women are increasingly being recruited into the drug trade as "mules" or independent peddlers, driven by economic distress, family ties to the trade, and their perceived ability to evade police scrutiny.
Almost 20 women drug peddlers have been nabbed in the recent times by Ferozepur Police in this district alone. As per the information, Punjab has reportedly recorded the highest number of women arrested for drug smuggling in India over a three-year period with over 3,000 arrests.
In fact, over 10 per cent of all NDPS FIRs registered in the state now name women as accused or co-accused.
An Intelligence Official, pleading anonymity, said that drug peddling has increasingly become a family enterprise in this region sharing border with Pakistan. In several families, women took over operations following their male relatives were arrested after the state government launched "War against Drugs".
Even the cross-border agencies are now using women as couriers because they are considered 'safer' carriers; being less likely to be frisked by male officers and can use public transport more inconspicuously.
“Lack of employment options juxtaposed with desire to make quick buck are also driving the women in drug smuggling,” said another official, adding that the trend has seen a spurt in last few months.
In a recent incident on March 31, the police had arrested one Rajbeer Kaur from Shah Wala Road near Zira and recovered 3.115 kg heroin and drug money of Rs. 11.50 lakh from her. On January 12, the sleuths belonging to ANTF had nabbed two smugglers, including a woman identified as Nisha Rani resident of Lakhe ke Uthar village in Fazilka, and had recovered 512 gram of ICE Drug (Crystal Methamphetamine) from them. Similarly, on January 16, the police had booked Neha, a resident of Amir Khas village along with one Mangat Singh resident of Panje Ke Uthar village in Guruharsahai and recovered 420 intoxicating tablets from them.
During her recent visit to this border district, Punjab State Women Commission Chairperson Raj Lali Gill had also expressed serious concern over women being increasingly exploited and used “couriers” in narcotics trade.
“The involvement of women in the drug trade is indeed a matter of concern for the society. There should be ample employment opportunities for the females belonging to economically weaker section so that they do not fall in this trap of drug trade,” said Psychiatrist Dr Mridul Sharma.
