Chandigarh: Cops on a high, nab 514 drug peddlers in two years

CHANDIGARH: As many as 514 drug peddlers have been arrested from different parts of the city from January 1, 2017, till June 13 this year. Out of the total accused, 44 were women.
According to data, 16 police stations have registered 507 cases under NDPS Act. Data revealed that the maximum number of 76 cases were registered at the Maloya police station followed by 57 at the Sector 39 police station. Sector 11 police arrested 48 drug peddlers and registered the same number of case. Similarly, sectors 34 and 36 police stations registered 40 and 43 cases, respectively. However, sectors 3 and 19 and police registered the minimum of 7 and 6 cases.

Police data highlighted that most of the accused were arrested while trying to smuggle heroin. “The reason is the high market value. Heroin sells for Rs 1,600 to Rs 2,000 per gram or more, depending on its purity,” said a police official.
In the last couple of years, banned medicines have become another favourite of drug peddlers. Police claimed to have seized 8,638 banned injectable vials, mainly Pheniramine and Buprenorphine Maleate, from the accused. “They mostly buy these vials from Saharanpur and Ambala for Rs 60-80 per combination of vials and sell them to addicts for Rs 180–200. The big margin in the sale of these medicinal drugs has been attracting smugglers,” said a police official.
Police said they have been taking a slew of steps to curb drug smuggling. During the second meeting of the standing committee of administrator’s advisory council on law and order at the police headquarters, Sector 9, members suggested all SHOs would interact with legal aid clinics in their areas.
Charanjit Singh, DSP, PRO, said police have appealed to people to share information on drug peddlers or smuggling on their WhatsApp number 7087239010. Police department have also formed a special investigation team (SIT), including an inspector, three sub-inspectors and a woman cop, for collecting information from deaddiction centres.