On Monday, Syed Shahed Husain, a Hyderabad-based former bank employee was arrested for selling marijuana, and a raid at his home revealed that he had been growing the crop in his three-bedroom apartment.
Similarly, in 2015, I. Ramesh, a former chemist at a pharmaceutical company, was arrested after he was found to have built a mini meth empire, becoming a millionaire within three years of his new trade.
Both individuals had stable jobs, but turned to drug production and selling to make quick money. Experts believe that it’s more of a behavioural issue that makes them turn their backs on a stable life.
Dr K. Prashant, Consultant Clinical Psychologist at Yashoda Hospitals says, “People in urban cities are inclined towards making a fast buck, and their moral compass doesn’t point north.” “Growing weed or cooking crystal meth is a short term, high risk way of doing that,” adds Dr Prashant.
Koti Reddy, the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, adds, “Syed became addicted to ganja much earlier, and developed a few contacts while buying the product himself. It was only three months ago that he began cultivating the plant in his apartment. It’s a way to earn easy money, and he was used to lavish spending.”
“It’s not very common — maybe only two or three individuals would be into such activities. That being said, anyone could be a drug trafficker or manufacturer,” adds Sunil Sinha, a Zonal Director at the Narcotics Control Bureau, and says that a mix of a criminal mindset and easy money makes them turn their backs on a legal means of income. “All narcotics-based businesses have huge profit margins and someone with a criminal mind will always be attracted to it,” he says.
Dr Prashant explains the pschye behind criminal minds, “They don’t have the courage to be outright predators, but want guaranteed returns. They work in the dark, anonymously and provide services that are clearly very harmful. It’s not like watching TV shows would have inspired them to take up these activities; they would have done so anyway. They’re conscious of what they’re doing.”
He also says that the notion of being in charge fans their egos: “They have an anti-social personality; they’re like social vampires, they prey on people, and don’t care about the consequences of these drugs on other people. There is deep insecurity and a lack of trust in their own ability to work hard and earn as lawful individuals.”
