KOZHIKODE: Malabar has become the hotspot of new narcotic products, especially among college and school students. The rage among the city youths now is ‘Manali cream’ or hashish in place of ‘magic mushroom’ that was till recently one of the most sought-after substances which they consumed to get high.
During the last two months, the excise department has seized hashish and related substances from youngsters in the city at four occasions. According to the officials, the consumption of weeds or such other products by the youths has increased as they are easily available.
“In a major haul recently, hashish oil or Manali cream oil (supposed to be brought from the Manali hills in Himachal Pradesh) worth '11 crore was seized from a gang in Idukki,” said P.K. Suresh, excise deputy commissioner. The hashish oil that is applied on cigarettes or beedis has a huge market in Malabar, where a large number of migrant workers are present, he added.
Two college students were held recently with four kilograms of hashish. According to Rajesh (name changed), a college student, Manali charas or hashish does not get straight into your body but it gently “frees you.”
It is hard to find the right source because a lot of people try to sell you adulterated stuff at a high price. “We buy a packet of Manali cream for Rs 500 to Rs 1,000. Sometimes, good quality hashish, claimed to be directly from Manali hill tops, is priced at '1,500 and above,” he added.
