Under special drive, drugs worth ₹3 crore seized in Rajasthan

During lockdown.., govt had allowed the movement of trucks. So, these smugglers taking advantage of this relief.., on the pretext of transporting vegetables and fruits, created special hidden compartments in their trucks so that nobody can catch them

JAIPUR: A special drive launched by the crime branch of Rajasthan police has revealed that illegal supply of drugs was rampant even in the lockdown period.

According to official figures of the police, between March 21 and June 19, more than 7,000 kg lanced poppy husk (also known as ‘doda’ ) and around 175 kg marijuana was recovered.

“The s p e c i a l d r i v e was launched in March last year and till June 18, 10,388 kg lanced poppy husk was recovered in 31 operations, out of which 11 were carried out between March 21 and June 19, in which 7,189 kg lanced poppy husk, 6 kg opium and 175 kg marijuana was recovered from Chittorgarh, Sawai Madhopur, Jaipur, Ajmer, Bharatpur and Tonk district,” said Bhagwan Lal Soni, director general of police (DGP), crime.

The DGP crime added that the price of the seized drugs in grey market during lockdown would be around Rs 3 crore. “All these drugs are life harming drugs. Repercussions of the drugs can be more costlier than their price. Just to give an idea, the price of 1kg lanced poppy husk is around Rs 4,000, opium is Rs 40,000 and marijuana is Rs 7,000 per kg. The consumption of marijuana is more in cities, while poppy husk is mostly consumed in rural pockets of Rajasthan,” he said.

In the 11 operations, 24 persons were arrested and a minor was detained, Soni said.

Talking the modus operandi of the accused, Soni said that most of the accused had created hidden compartments in their

BHAGWAN LAL SONI, DGP, crime

trucks. “All our operations were based on intelligence provided by the ground police staff. During lockdown to maintain uninterrupted supply of essential goods, government had allowed the movement of trucks. So, these smugglers taking advantage of this relief given by the government, on the pretext of transporting vegetables and fruits, created special hidden compartments in their trucks so that nobody can catch them,” the DGP crime said.

He added that, a total of 11 trucks and four loading vehicles were seized.

Doda is the leftover husk of an opium plant once the milk has been extracted. In northern and western Rajasthan, ‘doda’ is known as “mazdooron ka nasha” (intoxication of the labourers). Truck drivers take it with tea to stay alert on long journeys, farm workers and daily wagers for working overtime without feeling tired.