‘Health conscious’ men sold cocaine in Mumbai but preferred taking organic ganja

They were arrested for allegedly supplying cocaine, heroin, MD (Mephedrone) and other synthetic drugs to their Indian clients in Mumbai. But when it came to self-usage, the nine “obsessively health conscious” alleged drug peddlers of African origin who were intercepted last week, preferred organic intoxicants like ganja, officials said.

Their diet also consisted mainly protein-rich food (like chicken and dry fruits), while they abhorred packaged food and vegetables, a senior Anti-Narcotic Cell (ANC) official, who is part of the team investigating the case, said.

These facts came to light during the interrogation of the nine accused.

The accused were intercepted by the ANC on Saturday near the Eastern Freeway while they were on their way to deliver a consignment of cocaine and heroin.

The ANC official said almost all of them are of West African origin and took to peddling drugs to support their expensive life style and food habits.

The accused were arrested after ANC sleuths conducted searches at their rented flats in Navi Mumbai. “They lived in groups of three-four in small flats in Navi Mumbai. While the interiors of the flats were quite spartan, the food items kept in their fridges tell a different story,” the official said.

“The fridges were stacked with chicken, cheese, soft drinks and dry fruits,” the official said. During questioning, the Africans allegedly revealed that their diet consisted mainly of protein-rich food (like chicken and dry fruits), while they abhorred packaged food and vegetables. “They occasionally ate vegetables, strictly organic,” the official said adding, “a majority of them follow a strict food and health regime.”

Interestingly, it is this obsessive health consciousness that made them stay away from synthetic drugs like cocaine MD and heroine, which they fed their clients. Instead, they used organic drugs like marijuana, which they consider safer than synthetic drugs, the official said. “They believe marijuana is a herb and is not hazardous like synthetic drugs. Secondly, it increases appetite and the local drug comes cheap,” the official said. They got their regular supply of marijuana from local peddlers in exchange for the synthetic drug, the official said.

An NDPS court on Monday remanded the nine accused to the ANC custody till August 7.

First Published: Aug 01, 2018 10:44 IST