Synthetic drugs like methamphetamine and mephedrone as well as drugs like marijuana, opium, charas and heroin worth a whopping Rs.1617 crores have been seized in Gujarat this year. It is quite alarming that the amount is increased by 729% as compared to the previous year. What is even more problematic is that the biggest haul 3000 Kg of heroin captured at Mudra port is not included in the tally.
Gujarat DGP Ashish Bhatia has informed that enhanced vigilance has resulted in more seizure. During 2020, there was 12459 Kgs of drugs seized whereas, this year it is 67306 Kgs so far, which shows 440% increase from last year.
Looking to the figures, it appears that seizure of charas is in fact decreased from 267 Kg last year to 85 Kgs now. In 2020, 6659 Kgs of ganja was seized whereas in 2021 the seizure for ganja was almost 10 times at 63398 Kgs.
However, amount wise biggest surge is in synthetic drugs. Last year 4570 Kg of synthetic drugs worth Rs. 7.55 crores were seized. This year, 2746 Kgs of synthetic drugs seized were valued at Rs.35 crores. This would also mean that the value of synthetic drugs has increased from Rs.16520 per Kg to Rs. 127450 per Kg from 2020 to 2021.
Gujarat with it’s 1600 kms long coastline has always been a favourite for landing of drugs which used to be transported to states like Punjab. The new trend suggests that the drugs landed in Gujarat may be used for consumption in Gujarat and Maharashtra. One theory suggests that after the capture of Afghanistan by Taliban, the drug lords in Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan are in a hurry to empty the stock due to fear of Taliban.
Several local links to the drug trade have been unearthed in recent months. In Ahmedabad, a salon owner Vandit Patel was arrested on the charges of purchasing drugs for the purpose of supplying to his clients. 63 Kgs of drugs were also seized from Khambhalitya and Salaya villages of Devbhumi Dwarka district.
