India is the largest poppy cultivating country but it is generally taken for granted that the cultivation is for medicinal purposes. Indian farmers are granted licenses to cultivate opium, which is supposed to be purchased by the government, run medical laboratories for the manufacturing of medicines. However, only a small quantity is sold to the government while a large quantity of produce is goes to black market on high prices. The stuff is finally purchased by drug barons for further processing into fine quality narcotics and onward supply to different destinations. In a swift action by Indian Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) 25 kilograms of heroin was seized in the last week of October 2009, from the residence of Gaurav Oberoi, whose father Vicky Oberoi, hailing from Naigaon in Vasai Taluka of Thane district, was a known drug peddlers in the books of ATS.
The latest recovery led to certain arrests, which included Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Saji Mohan, who had also served as Zonal Director of the Indian Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) at Chandigarh. The arrest of member of Indian NCB in drug trafficking might have surprised the world but not Indians as it has become a routine affairs that Indian officials including Security Forces and Police personnel are involved in crimes including drug trafficking. The Maharashtra ATS, which is investigating the case, have come across evidence which suggests that Saji Mohan has tentacles of his racket also sitting in various Pakistani cities. Saji Mohan, in his confessional statement disclosed that he had obtained the heroin from a drug dealer based in Indian held Jammu & Kashmir between 2007 and 2008. Saji Mohan links have not only been confirmed with Gaurav Oberoi and Vicky Oberoi but Rajesh Kumar whom the ATS arrested while in possession of 1.85 kilogram of heroin on January 17 this years has been also found members of the same racket.
Since Saji Mohan has been caught red handed from a hotel at Oshiwara in Mumbai with 12 kilograms of heroin, he has no other option but to cooperate with the Indian authorities. However, so far he has not revealed the names of Indian nationals holed up in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, across the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan and other cities there. It has also come to the notice of ATS investigators that Saji Mahon was also involved in smuggling of drugs, seized by the NCB during its various raids, to Pakistan. If he had been selling the seized drugs in India, it would have not been a matter of great concern but selling drugs by Indian nationals in Pakistan is probably the fact which many among us would have never thought of ATS officer, involved in interrogation of Saji Mohan disclosed that he is currently holding the appointment of Deputy Director, Enforcement Directorate at Kochi.
They further disclosed that ATS has so far seized around 40 kilograms heroin from Mohan and his accomplices. The ATS also confirmed that Saji Mohan sold 52 kilograms of heroin in a single year, during his tenure as NCB’s Zonal Director at Chandigarh. A newly posted Police officer in Indian city of Chandimander disclosed that the Indian manufactured heroin is smuggled from India to Pakistan for sale in different cities as well as for repacking and smuggling back to India. He added Indian heroin is smuggled back to India for the reason that it is generally believed that heroin bearing Afghan and Pakistani trade marks of fine quality and can fetch high rates in India. It is sheer ignorance to blame Afghanistan for all the narcotics trade. Narcotics including heroin are regularly smuggled from India to a number of countries including Pakistan through a network of agents in these countries. Indian nationals are also involved in narcotics trade with Hong Kong and Australia. Hong Kong customs authorities made a seizure of 307 kilograms of Ketamine and 10 kilogram of crystalline Methamphetamine at the Hong Kong International Airport in November 2008. The consignment, which originated in India, arrived via Singapore. Later two other Indian originated narcotics consignments were seized in April and October 2009. Back in November 2008, an incident took place in which a racket was arrested, trying to smuggle 1.5 kilogram of Methamphetamine.
As per the NCB sources at New Delhi, every year, Indian counter-narcotics forces eradicate areas in Indian states where poppy is illicitly cultivated. According to official figures quoted in September 2009, about 2,000 kilograms of opium derived from illicitly cultivated poppy are seized annually in India. However, the quantity of heroin and opium seized annually otherwise has not been revealed. Since opium and heroin are also smuggled to the neighbouring countries, the exact figures are very difficult to ascertain. India is one of the largest illicit producers of cannabis and cannabis resin in South Asia.
According to official figures In 2007, about 284 ha of cannabis plants were destroyed by the Indian government while in 2008 292 ha were destroyed. It falls within the responsibility of NBC to eradicate poppy and other plants used in the manufacturing of narcotics in areas where it grows wild or is illicitly cultivated but it is a neglected sector. Heroin and morphine are among the substances most commonly abused in India but major portion of narcotics manufactured in India is smuggled to foreign countries including Pakistan. Indian Intelligence Bureau (IB) and NBC blame Indian national hailing from Mumbai namely Dawood Ibrahim and his associates are behind all the crimes in India. It is alleged that the profits of the narcotics trade through Afghan heroin trafficking have become a powerful source of financing organized crime and terrorist networks, destabilizing the political systems, including in Central Asia and the Caucasus. Ironically, till to date there is not a single case registered against Dawood Ibrahim for his involvement in drug trafficking crimes.
One fails to understand that how come India put organized crimes of Indian nationals on the credit of Pakistan. Ground facts reveals that India is actively involved in pushing narcotics consignments in the neighbouring countries including Pakistan, whereas whole blame is put on the Afghans. It is on record that India is largest producer of poppy, cannabis and other plants and chemicals used in manufacture of narcotics. The record of Indian nationals involved in smuggling of narcotics is worrisome and is on the top of the list prepared by international agencies. However, India due to its strong lobbying was never in the limelight, despite the fact that it is the largest poppy cultivating country in the world.
The excuse that poppy grown in India is for medicinal purposes can always stand good for Afghanistan. The recent arrests of top officer from Indian Narcotics Control Bureau and his links with Indian Police, Army and other personnel is an eye opener for the world as well as Indian nationals themselves. One wonders, if Indian national namely Dawood Ibrahim and his Indian associates are really involved in narcotics trade or it is mere a cover up story but one thing is quite strange that why India blames for all its ills and evils in society on Pakistan or other Muslim countries. It is a high time that India should be kept on international watch list for its involvement in narcotics manufacturing and smuggling to neighbouring countries as well world at large.
Source:pakobserver.net
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