Drug dealers take to tech

Hyderabad: The drug suppliers in the city use hawala or cryptocurrency among other means to pay for their stash, officials from Excise Department. 

There exists a chain, namely A (drug manufacturer or wholesaler), B (sub vendor), C (mediator) and D (customer), which are part of every transaction when drugs exchange hand, said K. Pavan Kumar, Assistant Excise Superin-tendent, State Task Force, Prohibition and Excise. 

Usually any transaction between a drug wholesaler and sub-vendor/ mediator involves huge quantity of drugs, which are of high monetary value and thus hawala system is used mostly to transact money in such deals, Mr Kumar said. 

However, when it comes to customers transacting with mediators or sub vendors, payment methods range from cash, e-wallets and even online bank transfers along with bitcoins used to pay at times, he added. 

Consumers usually start with ganja since it is most pocket-friendly compared to other drugs, and then start exploring into other drugs like LSD and cocaine. According to Bhaskar Reddy, head constable of Prohibition and Excise, college students often indulge in such patterns when they start with smoking ganja joints in small quantity and simultaneously research on the effect and price of other drugs available.

For the old timers who wish to buy any drug for self-consumption need to make part payment in advance and this is mostly done via online banking or e-wallet payment portals like PayTm or Tez, so that the customer has evidence of the payment. 

Another official from State Task Force, Excise and Prohibition says that the impact of drug also decides what a customer will opt for. For instance, one LSD stamp costing between Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,000 can be used by four people and it gives a high for 10 to 12 hours. 

Whereas one snort of cocaine gives high only for maximum 45 minutes; a gramme of cocaine costing Rs 5,000 ends within 3 to 4 hours. “Buyers from low financial standing like drivers and students would prefer ganja or LSD over cocaine and they prefer to complete the payment by cash or e-wallets,” he said.