New research to profile narcotics

The Gujarat Forensic Science University (GFSU) has undertaken a new research on profiling opium and cannabis to trace their origins and develop a data bank.

Every narcotic has some indigenous traceable element in it,which is specific to its place of growth. The data bank will serve as a ready-reckoner for law enforcement agencies.

GFSU director Dr J M Vyas said: The research may take some time. But right from DNA profiling to maintaining data about drug morphology will be carried out.

He added: Opium and cannabis grow naturally in Madhya Pradesh,Uttar Pradesh,Jammu & Kashmir,Punjab and Rajasthan. Our team will visit each of these states to profile opium and cannabis specific to them. As of now narcotics are smuggled from Pakistan and Afghanistan,he said.

Meanwhile,GFSU Assistant Professor Astha Pandey told The Indian Express that the research will take two years. Earlier,Central Forensic Science Laboratory,Hyderabad had done some work on narcotic profiling,but not the way we will do it. It will cover every aspect right from the geography to DNA profile, she said.

Pandey,however,refused to divulge more on the research methodology.

The United Nations had carried out a similar project in some countries,but ours is the first-ever such research in India, she added.

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