Surge in cocaine push to South India

This year the Narcotic Intelligence Bureau, Chennai zone, has already seized 8.8 kg in less than five months while the total seizure of cocaine during 2017 was 8.8 kg, noted A Bruno, NCB zonal director. Of the total drug seized, 6.8 kg of cocaine was seized in three occasions in just last two weeks. Apart from NCB’s seizure of 8.8 kg of cocaine on three occasions, three kg of the drug was seized at Chennai airport in an joint operation by DRI and NCB on April 27.

There seems to be an increase in flow of cocaine from South American countries in the last few months. The reason could be increase in demand in India for the high value drug and the drug cartels found they should use the Indian market, which is accepting cocaine also like any other global product, an official noted. The street price of cocaine is Rs 3 crore a kg. The end users buy it in grams. The procuring price is estimated to be Rs 1.25 crore. Sleuths believe there is a well-oiled delivery system for cocaine in cities like Chennai, Kochi and Bengaluru.

The surge in cocaine push from Latin America was also because of crack down on Columbian drug lords there, where 12 tonnes of a particular seized drug were destroyed in 2017. It was reported that all major cartels in that South American country were hit and new players, who were not familiar with the ‘trade’ were now trying their hands in bringing in cocaine to South India. They were also getting caught.

Apart from the new-found interest in Indian markets by drug cartels, increase in vigil and demand for party drugs seems to have helped the central agency to improve their performance.