Tuesday, July 31, 2012

India leading exporter of illicit party drug: US state dept

NEW DELHI: India has emerged as the biggest source of party drug Ketamine illicitly exported across the world, according to the 2012 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), prepared by Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs under the US Department of State.

The report says India's strategic location — situated between Southwest Asia (the Golden Crescent) and Southeast Asia (the Golden Triangle) — makes it an attractive transshipment area for contraband bound for Europe, Africa, Southeast Asia and North America.

While much of the contraband like heroine, opium and cocaine come from abroad and use India as a transit point; Ketamine is largely sourced domestically.

The modus operandi, say Indian drug enforcement agencies sources, is illicit diversion of stocks engineered by licenced Ketamine manufacturers from states like Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra. It is estimated that about four-five tonnes of ketamine go missing every year from legitimate production.

Significantly, only last month the Delhi zone of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) busted an international cartel, nabbing two Delhi exporters and seized over 650 kg of Ketamine. The duo was found to have exported large quantities of Ketamine to 11 countries in the past few years and their illicit trade is suspected to be worth close to Rs 500 crore.

The INCSR report notes: "India has become one of the main sources of Ketamine. Ketamine, a veterinary anesthesia, is not under international control, and the number of significant Ketamine seizures at major airports, in sea containers and in parcels continues to increase."

It adds, "India also manufactures organic and synthetic licit opiate/psychotropic pharmaceuticals (LOPPS). Destined for licit sales in markets around the world, these items (raw opium, chemical precursors, Ketamine, LOPPS) are vulnerable to diversion, including through illegally operating Internet pharmacies."

Sources in Indian drug enforcement agencies say the state machinery needs to closely monitor legitimate Ketamine production and stop illicit diversion. "The clandestine manufacture of Ketamine is a complex and costly process, therefore the main source of illicit Ketamine is through the diversion of legitimate pharmaceutical products," says a drug enforcement official.

The DRI officials say much of this diversion is taking place from Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra. "Himachal in particular has an industry-favourable tax regime that has led to proliferation of Ketamine manufacturing companies. Several of these firms have been found to be unscrupulously diverting Ketamine to illicit markets," said a DRI official.

While Ketamine sells for Rs 35,000 a kg, illicit export can fetch up to Rs 10 lakh for the same quantity. The cartel's net spreads far and wide involving international drug mafia and people from Customs and Directorate General of Foreign Trade, say DRI sources.
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Sunday, July 15, 2012

56-year-old woman molested in Manipur

A 56-year-old woman was allegedly molested by a neighbour at Kakching in Manipur on Saturday night. The complaint was lodged at the local police station on Sunday morning but police was reportedly reluctant to register FIR and arrest the culprit.

According to locals, the woman was sitting outside her house along with her daughter-in-law when neighbour Ibomcha, 54, grabbed and outraged her modesty.

"She fainted and had to be admitted at Kakching Community Health Centre," said Madhu Chandra, spokesperson of North East Support Centre and Helpline, an NGO that took up her case.

The woman's family members hired a lawyer and lodged a complaint at the Kakching police station but the police refused to register FIR until members of the NGO spoke to the officer in charge.

"The OC said the complaint could not be registered and action taken as it was a case between neighbours," Chandra said, adding he relented only after being told that the matter would be taken up with higher authorities.

"We are probing the case. If the man is found guilty, he will be dealt with strictly," a senior police officer said.

As per the National Crime Records Bureau, Manipur had in 2011 secured the fourth spot among Indian states vis-à-vis crime against women.

"Tendency of the police to ignore such cases encourages the perpetrators to make a mockery of the law," a rights activist said from state capital Imphal.
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Thursday, July 5, 2012

CID arrests private security guard selling guns with fake licences

GUWAHATI: A CID sleuth succeeded in arresting Naoba Meitie, a private security guard of Manipur who was providing arms and duplicate licences to many in the region on Tuesday night. Meitie was arrested from the city's Lachit Nagar area where he was residing in a rented house. CID also found three SBBL guns and their duplicate licenses in his house.

"Two of the licenses were made in Senapati district of Manipur and one in Dimapur of Nagaland. Naoba was all set to sell these guns with the licences to three others from Dhudhnoi in Goalpara district. He was to sell each license and gun for Rs 40,000," said a CID official.

CID also arrested four others involved in the case. They were identified as Madhab Chandra Rabha, Biru Ram Rabha, Ajit Roy and Dipen Chandra Rabha. The three licences found with Meitie were issued in the name of Madhab, Biru and Ajit.

"Meiti was once arrested in a similar case in 2011. Later, he was released on bail. He started his illegal business of selling guns and fake licenses under the cover of his present job as a security guard. He used to sell these arms and licences to other security guards in the state. He might have other clients too. We are questioning him," added the official.

Naoba used to purchase the guns with the help of his contacts in Manipur and Nagaland. He used to sell them to various private security service providers and security guards here.

CID said many private security agencies in the region are also involved in the racket and procuring such illegal arms, duplicate licences as guards with a gun license can draw a good salary. "We are keeping an eye on the activities of private security agencies," added the official.
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Monday, July 2, 2012

Wanted criminal nabbed by Special Cell of Delhi police

New Delhi: The Special Cell of Delhi Police has arrested a Manipur native, wanted in several criminal cases there.

The man named Nanua was arrested on Sunday from Kingsway Camp near Delhi University and is said to be a member of a banned outfit.

He was produced on Monday before the court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Smita Garg.

The court granted police his transit remand for five days and he will now be handed over to the Manipur police.

Sources said Nanua was staying at Kingsway camp for the last one year.

They said he used to make extortion calls from here to Manipur and is wanted in several criminal cases there including those under section 307 (attempt to murder) and section 326 (causing grievous hurt) of the Indian Penal Code.
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