Pune emerges transit centre for illicit drugs

Pune is emerging as both a transit and consumption centre for illicit narcotic trade, S K Sawhney, commissioner of customs, Pune told reporters.

The Customs Department has seized Rs 1.35 crore worth of narcotic drugs which include heroine, hashish and ganja in the year 2006-07 in four cases.

The Pune police have also seized drugs worth Rs 50 lakh over the past year, said Sunil Phulari, assistant commissioner of police to the Business Standard.

With the emergence of nuclear families with higher disposal incomes, youth in Business Process Outsourcing companies earning in double digit numbers and the proximity to Mumbai in this case being a bane to the widespread of narcotics in the city.

Hashish and ganja are coming in from the south as well as the north. Karnataka and Manali are the places it comes from and then goes to Mumbai and Goa from here. "As for the heroin it comes in from Afghanisthan and, goes to US and Australia," said Sawhney.

Official at the commissionerate also disclosed cases of cultivation of grass in the state at Sholapur.

"This is the first time that such an incidence is being reported in the state," said officials.

In the recent case of the 'rave party' bust that took place in the city the Customs Department was working very closely with the city police. The customs has also joined resources with the Coastal Guard for setting up of 26 anti-smuggling formations for sea and coastal patrolling.

"We are synergising resources with the police and the coastal guards in Maharashtra and Gujarat for preventing illicit narcotics trade," said Sawhney.

The Pune Customs Commissionerate recorded revenues of Rs 251 crore in financial year 2006-07 up from Rs 151 crore last year a growth of 65 per cent, and outdoing the national growth of 36 per cent.

"This high growth has been possible due to the setting up of three ICDs and CFRS at Dighi, Chinchwad and Pimpri as also Ratnagiri port," said Sawhney.

The commissionerate plans to setup a banking facility in ICD, Dighi and allow the electronic assessment of import and export in Pune.

It is also in talks with the Airports Authority of India to provide some space for a facility for air cargo complex and courier operations can be setup. Besides the Commissionerate also plans to augment its marine capabilities.

"We will acquire 8 new vessels this year and discard the four old vessels that we have," said Sawhney.