The drugs mafia in the capital city of Bhubaneswar running their trade with the help of ladies and couples has come as a big headache for police.
Of the 40 drug peddlers who were arrested jointly by police and excise departments in last six months, more than 20 of them were ladies and couples.
During the same period, the Commissionerate Police alone arrested 24 peddlers and seized brown sugar worth over Rs 67 lakh and Rs 2.4 lakh in cash from their possession. Of the arrested peddlers, seven were women.
Drugs mafias' latest trend of roping in women and couple, particularly from slum areas, has been a matter of concern for the police.
DCP, Bhubaneswar Prateek Singh admitted that women are being used to peddle drugs. “We have noticed that a new trend of running the business with the help of women and couples has set in. We would take action against them under NDPS Act,” Singh informed.
During the last eight months, the Excise department arrested 26 peddlers and seized brown sugar weighing over one kilogram. Of the arrested 26 peddlers, 14 were women including some who had been arrested on several occasions.
Describing about what prompts the drugs mafia to use women, excise department inspector Bikas Nayak said, “They can easily conceal the contraband items and without female cops we can’t search them. Besides, since it has become a profitable trade, more and more women are coming into it,” said Nayak.
Meanwhile, the police bulldozers razed Drugs mafia Dilua’s shop at Salia Sahi. Dilua was running his drug trade from the shop which was constructed on government land.
Now, Dilua and his wife Purnima are cooling their heels behind bars.