Ganja among top drug seizures, 1,000 drug consumers booked in a month in Bengaluru

BENGALURU: As many as 1,003 cases were reported against drug consumers in a month in a special enforcement drive against drugs by the Bengaluru City police around educational institutions in Bengaluru city while 130 cases were reported against drug peddlers and the seizures made by the police reveal that ganja (cannabis) consumers are more in numbers than other drugs.

Among the seizures made included ganja of about 204. 128 kg, Hashish oil of about 1.195 kg, Opium of about 0. 768 and Synthetic drugs of about 1.311 kg. Besides, Methylenedioxy-Methylamphetamine (MDMA) Ecstasy tablets of 123 and Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) strips of 70 were also seized during the drive. In addition, 171 cases were registered under Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COPTA).

Apart from seizure of drugs around educational institutions in the city, the Bengaluru police, from 2022 till June, 2023 had registered a total of 6191 cases which include 7723 Indians and 159 foreigners for peddling and consuming drugs. Of the cases registered, Bengaluru city police have registered cases against 943 were drug peddlers and 5248 were consumers.

From the arrested, the Bengaluru city police have recovered drugs worth Rs 117 crore amounting to about 6261 kg. Among the drugs seized by the police, there was ganja in large quantities amounting to 6074.685 kg followed by Hashish oil of about 5.5 kg, Brown Sugar of about 2.554 kg, Opium of about 15. 689 kg, MDMA tablets of about 52.679 kg, Synthetic drugs of about 109.914 kg, Ecstasy tablets of about 3406 kg and LSD strips of about 1372 kg.

On March 24 this year, the Police Commissioner said seized drugs worth Rs 92 crore were destroyed including 4397.855 kg besides 8199 Ecstasy tablets and LSD tablet strips of about 584 kg. Permission has been obtained from the Court to destroy Rs 21 crore worth of drugs seized and steps would be initiated to destroy the seized drugs in a scientific manner in the coming days.

On the occasion of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking held in Bengaluru on Monday, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said the drug peddling in Karnataka is under control when compared with the other states in the country and called upon the students to fight against the drug menace which is detrimental for the society.

He told the students that if anybody is addicted to drugs, then, a stern message has to go to the society that such addicts would not be spared by the police and they would be put behind bars. He recalled some of the celebrities caught in drug consuming cases and had to pass through difficult times.