Addicts, suppliers connect via social media for tobacco products

Yagnesh Bharat Mehta | TNN | Apr 30, 2020, 04:00 IST

Surat: Nicotine addicts are using the social media platforms to pour out their hearts in the stringent times of lockdown, ruing the lack of tobacco supplies. These posts have, however, kicked up the spirits of canny suppliers, who are minting green while easing woes of these addicts on the sly.
At 6am, the cellphone in textile unit employee, Mitesh Patel’s hand buzzed with an incoming message. Reading it ennui, Patel was, however, overjoyed as he received a contact number he was desperately waiting for. He quickly saved it in his mobile and upon checking the WhatsApp status of the number, he found various options of tobacco products from bidi, cigarette, raw tobacco to processed tobacco mix.
“In reply to the status one just needs to ask for the price and details are promptly shared. I could get a packet of cigarette for Rs 150, which normally costs Rs 100,” said Patel, without any trace of remorse for paying Rs50 more. It was a win-win for both Ptel and the young men wanting to earn some quick buck.
Patel said he was to wait at a specific location and two men delivered him the packet at the appointed time.
Amid lockdown, such suppliers are clandestinely delivering everything — from ‘mava mix’ to processed tobacco pouches, bidi, foreign cigarettes and even pan masala. The ‘foreign brand’ is, however, of dubious quality and often found to be duplicate products.
A supplier from Chowk, whose actual business is mobile repairing, said: “We reply to only those who give proper reference. We charge 50 percent more to each product considering the risk involved in delivery and accept orders for above Rs 300 only.”
A paan shop owner from Pandesara explained why bidi has also become very popular now. “Bidi is affordable compared to Rs 200 per box of 10 cigarettes,” he said.
In recent past police have arrested many while carrying pouches of mava in Varachha, Kapodra, Sarthana and Katargam area. Addiction of mava makes regular users even take the risk of venturing out to get their supply, said cops.