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==2016, Delhi: Synthetic drugs rule parties==
[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=INTL-DAY-AGAINST-DRUG-ABUSE-Synthetic-drugs-rule-27062016004051 The Times of India], Jun 27 2016
[[File: Punjab, 2015- Opioids worth Rs 7,500 crore consumed annually.jpg| Punjab, 2015: Opioids worth Rs 7,500 crore consumed annually ; Graphic courtesy: [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=INTL-DAY-AGAINST-DRUG-ABUSE-Synthetic-drugs-rule-27062016004051 The Times of India], Jun 27 2016|frame|500px]] 

Rajshekhar Jha

''' Synthetic drugs rule party circles ''' 

Heroin and cocaine seem passé for the capital's drug market as people are getting high on synthetic drugs. Methamphetamine aka crystal meth and Meow Meow ruled party circles in 2015-16, reveals data released by the Delhi division of Narcotics Control Bureau on International Day against Drug Abuse.
The data shows that consumption and seizures of heroin and cocaine dipped drastically by as much as four times this year--from 33kg in 2014-15, seizures came down to 9kg in 2015-16. Cocaine too dropped by half, from 13kg to 7kg. However, seizures of Meow Meow increased from 3kg to 57kg and meth rose to 21kg from 3kg.

The figures were released by NCB director general RR Bhatnagar and zonal director (Delhi) Rohit Sharma on Sunday. “In 2014-15, we conducted 36 operations and arrested 46 people, including 25 Indians and 21 foreigners. In 2015-2016, we conducted 47 operations and arrested 27 people,“ Sharma said.

The central drug enforcement agency has also identified how drugs travel from across the border and through the country . Heroin is mainly smuggled from Pakistan through six ways. “The floating method involves the sea route. Conceal and clear method involves using PVC pipes and throwing the consignment across the fence on the border. We have also found drugs concealed in white ce ment sacks and moved across the border in trucks,“ Sharma added.

Once it reaches Delhi, heroin is shipped to European and American countries concealed in small parcels by air.The drug is concealed by creating false cavities in books, paintings, machinery parts, combs, designer clothing, shoe soles, decoration items, skipping ropes, artefacts, soft toys, baby clothes, saree falls, ghagras, etc, the NCB said.

Cocaine is concealed in the personal baggage of people travelling to Latin American countries, especially Brazil, by creating false cavities or concealing in food products like milk powder.

Professional “swallo wers“ also traffic cocaine by stuffing the drug in small capsules sheathed in cellophane, rubber or gelatin. The swallowed capsules are retrieved after passing out stool in the destination country .Besides this, cocaine also reaches India from Brazil concealed in courier parcels. “Methaqualone is mostly carried by concealing it in the false cavities of baggage.It is also shipped through parcels. Charas is carried by carriers travelling to Delhi through road or rail. Apart from local consumption, charas is also shipped abroad in parcels concealed in musical instruments, books, wooden decoration pieces, rings of curtains, etc,“ Sharma said.