The new centre of the Golden Triangle

In its annual report for 2006 on drug abuse,the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) also confirmed: “Punjab is emerging as the new hub for smuggling drugs into India. Most drugs,particularly,heroin,are subsequently taken to New Delhi or Mumbai and ferried to other countries.”

Around 20 per cent of the 300 or so identified drug smugglers in Punjab are women. Schoolchildren are also used as couriers and are paid around Rs 5,000 per delivery.

Sources added that the police had also seized 55 kg of smack,563 kg of opium,100 kg of charas and a large quantity of poppy husk last year. In addition,property worth Rs 50.78 crore,bought with the drug money of 298 smugglers,was seized by the state police.

The modus operandi to smuggle drugs into Punjab from Pakistan is shockingly simple — in the “throw and collect” technique,the packets are pitched over the barbed-wire fencing.

The most ‘porous’ areas are Ferozepur and Fazilka area on the Indo-Pak border in Punjab and Khem Karan sector in Jammu and Kashmir. The contraband is smuggled through Khem Karan and then enters Punjab.

Now,the state government is in the process of putting together an anti-drug smuggling police task force. In January this year,the state Narcotic Cell has also been given the powers of a police station and is authorised to register cases.

“New measures are been taken to prevent drug smuggling. We will not spare any police personnel involved in smuggling,” said Punjab DGP N P S Aulakh.

Drug cartels,admit police officers,have been using a portion of their huge profits to finance and facilitate terrorist groups and disruptive activities. The trade has also spawned large money-laundering networks.