Intermediate Levels Pharma Factories And Sick Units On Radar
Mumbai : Following the inclusion of Mephedrone in the schedule of the NDPS Act, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has started a drive to check pharmaceutical factories, both licensed and working, and sick units, to tap those who might be producing Mephedrone under the garb of producing legal drugs.
Sanjay Kumar Jha, the Zonal Director of NCB, Mumbai, said since Mephedrone does not have any legal use and cannot be produced legally, its production can happen only in sick units or at intermediate levels in pharmaceutical factories that produce other legal drugs. “The composition of Mephedrone consists of very common and basic drugs which can be bought even at a pharmacy. Its production process is also very simple. So if a manufacturer chooses, he can produce it while he produces other drugs that have components in common with Mephedrone,” Jha said.
Mephedrone’s production takes place in rural areas of Maharashtra and Gujarat and even in some areas of Delhi. According to Jha, most of the Mephedrone that is produced is being exported to other countries, as Mumbai’s or even India’s consumption is extremely miniscule as compared to the other countries. “Its cheap production cost and easy manufacturing process has made it a favourite with drug producers as the profit margin is very high as compared to costlier drugs such as cocaine,” Jha added.
A kg of Mephedrone costs around Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 to those producing it and its selling price in illegal market is anywhere between Rs 1,200 to Rs 2,000 per gram (Rs 12 lakh to Rs 20 lakh a kg).
Sindhu J Mansukhani
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Accused Cop Was On Forefront To Hold Drug Free Campus Meet
Meanwhile, the constable attached with the Marine Drive police station, Dharma Kalokhe, who was arrested by the Satara police for possessing 110-kg Mephedrone (also known as MD and Meow Meow) on Monday, was brought to Mumbai by a team of Satara police for further investigation on Wednesday. A case has also been registered against him for storing drugs in the Marine Drive police station; and a proposal for his dismissal will be given by the Additional Commissioner of Police (South Region) Krishna Prakash to the Commissioner of Mumbai police Rakesh Maria on Thursday.
According to a source in Mumbai police, the constable had an exemplary record. Ironically, he was one of the policemen in-charge of preparing for a conference related to the drive, Drug-Free Campus, which was organised by Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC), Mumbai.
“The seminar was organised to introduce principals of colleges and senior police officers to the programme. Kalokhe was one of the people in-charge,” an officer said.
The police are still investigating about the extent of Kalokhe’s drug racket and are suspecting the involvement of a woman accomplice too.
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