Drug Menace Should Be Eradicated

Menace Of The Drugs

Drug addiction and the menace of drug sales all over the world poses a stiff problem to the governments concerned and the society. In fact drug problem is more difficult to tackle than even terrorism. Drugs spoil the youth particularly and the future of the country itself is at risk because of this menace. Unscrupulous drug peddlers find innovative means to deceive the police and the authorities to market the most dangerous and addictive drugs to the school going and college going students. Grown up adults also become addicts to this habit from which they find difficult to come out.

Marijuana, Most Smuggled Drug In Tamil Nadu

As far as Tamil Nadu State in India is concerned, marijuana is the most smuggled drug. This information has been revealed by the Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB). Locally it is called as ganja. Last year, ephedrine topped the list of the most smuggled drug inside Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu is by far a law abiding society where peace prevails. Schools and colleges are mostly free of even alcohol and tobacco let alone drugs. But of late drug habit is spreading fast among the students and other categories of society. Other drugs smuggled inside the State are heroine and cocaine.

Drugs Re-Smuggled To South East Asian Nations

But one should not come to the wrong conclusion that all the smuggled drugs inside Tamil Nadu are consumed inside Tamil Nadu itself. In fact most of the drugs are smuggled out of Tamil Nadu to other South East Asian nations. Tamil Nadu only acts as a conduit point for drug smuggling. The parents and teachers in Tamil Nadu are very orthodox and strict. Therefore consumption of drugs without the knowledge of the parents and teachers is difficult in Tamil Nadu compared to other States in India where more liberal atmosphere prevails.

Air Passengers Involved In Drug Smuggling

NCB has busted an international drug gang suspected to be part of the drug cartel in Sri Lanka. 3.3 kg of heroin has been seized from them recently. It was concealed inside a travel bag. Recently police seized a large haul of ganja (cannabis) in the course of a vehicle check in GST Road near Vandalur zoo in Chennai. The drug seized weighed 268 kg and was packed into 119 parcels, each weighing 2.5 kg. Several people were arrested. Recently Air Intelligence Unit seized 6.96 kg of ephedrine in Tiruchi in Tamil Nadu. Three people were arrested including a mother and son.

Smuggling Ephedrine Is Easy

Recently a ganja peddler Palani residing in Royapettah in Chennai was clubbed to death by his sister, brother and another relative. From a woman air passenger who deported in Tiruchi from Kuala Lumpur, 4.875 kg of ephedrine was seized. In Chennai Airport, 106 kg of ephedrine was seized involving eight cases in Chennai Airport. Smuggling of ephedrine does not come under non-bailable offence unlike smuggling of heroin, marijuana and cocaine. This is because smuggling of ephedrine has not been banned in India under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. However, it comes under the Regulation of Controlled Substances Order. Because of this technical loophole, smugglers of ephedrine come out of prison through bail and indulge in repeated acts of smuggling. The Indian government should make smuggling of ephedrine a non-bailable act to tighten the screws on the smugglers.

Ephedrine Is Sold Like A Tablet

Ephedrine has the same stimulant effects like cocaine on the body. It is sold as a tablet. Ephedrine is a raw material for the manufacture of amphetamine-type recreational drugs popular in South East Asian nations like Singapore, Malaysia, China, Japan, Thailand and Indonesia. One kg of ephedrine costs around Rupees one lakh in India and the price multiplies by three times when it reaches the South East Asian nations, giving a heft profit to the smugglers. The smugglers share this profit with the police and the authorities. But there are honest officials also in the police and the government. Ephedrine is also used to prepare asthma medicines. Some time back the drug was freely available across the counter in pharmaceutical shops.

Ephedrine Finds Legitimate Uses Also

Ephedrine cannot be totally banned from use. This is because the drug also finds many useful applications. Ephedrine is manufactured from a shrub called Ephedra. When consumed, ephedrine speeds up nervous system and heart. The consumer becomes focused and alert. It also provides a happy feeling and confidence. But consuming excess ephedrine can make one anxious; result in muscle spasms, dry mouth and a racing heart. Small quantities of the drug ephedrine are used in cold remedies as it makes breathing easier by relaxing airways. Ephedrine can also raise blood pressure. Continuous use of the drug and addiction to it will result in heart attack and stroke.

Even Kasab Knows He Will Not Be Hanged

Death punishment is prescribed for drug trafficking in India. But this is mere eyewash and nobody is scared of the punishment. This is because as soon as a drug trafficker is caught and sentenced to death, human rights organizations protest and clamour for his release from the custody on ‘humanitarian’ reasons. Recently the President Pratiba Patil sanctioned clemency to many people sentenced to death for heinous crimes like killing children. In India, nobody is afraid of the death penalty. Kasab murdered many innocent people and is happily languishing in Indian jail where he is provided with costly non vegetarian means everyday. Kasab knows that he will not be hanged as the human rights organizations are out to protest to save him from the gallows.

Drug Peddlers Deserve No Mercy

Many sadhus and sanyasis smoke marijuana during religious festivities like the Kumbh Mela, Magh Mela etc. India has a tradition of using cannabis and opium in spiritual, medicinal and social contexts. Chennai police arrested a Nigerian citizen in the heart of the city for peddling of cocaine. In Punjab also drug addiction is increasing day by day. A Nigerian was arrested in Chennai for despatching two consignments of heroin to Holland and Australia. Indian authorities should tighten the noose around the drug peddlers. Drug peddlers damage the fabric of the nation by making the students addicted to the harmful drugs. These peddlers deserve no mercy. The courts should sentence them to death and politicians should not grant favour to them at the protest staged by the so called human rights organizations.