Revealed: How Pakistan outfits drugged Indian Punjab

[Lord ZeN]

NEW DELHI: It is not just terror that is being exported from across the border. The scourge of drug trafficking in Punjab has been growing due to the easy availability of drug couriers, digging of tunnels, insertion of pipes through border fencing, and well-knit syndicates including transnational criminals running the racket from jails.

The Border Security Force (BSF), in a detailed report to the Union Home Ministry on drug trafficking in Punjab from beyond the borders, has explained the functioning of well-organised drug cartels.

The border guarding force was prompted to submit a report to the Home Ministry after the Punjab government slammed it for not cracking down on the drug mafia that continues to smuggle drugs from Pakistan.

The ruling Shirimoni Akali Dal government in Punjab has blamed the BSF for the drug menace in Punjab that has been growing due to drug trafficking from Pakistan.

The border guarding force has also said that it’s not smuggled drugs that are solely responsible for the drug menace in the state. According to the BSF report, heroin and opium, the two drugs most smuggled, contribute to only five per cent of the substance abuse in Punjab.

According to the BSF, there are plenty of couriers in border villages and they are being paid up to Rs 60,000 per kg and a well-organised syndicate ensures that drug consignments are “concealed and cleared”.

The BSF has also admitted that for years people along the border have been part of the drug network but little has been done to rein in these elements.

“There is a third generation of smugglers and couriers operating on the Punjab border. For a majority of them, this has become a hereditary profession,” the report says.

The BSF has communicated that local authorities are not of much help in identifying people who are part of drug cartels.

Sources say since there is a good network of couriers ensuring smooth clearance of consignments from the border areas, the kingpins are never nabbed.

“Synthetic drugs are freely available in border areas of Punjab. They can be purchased from chemists or local vendors,” the report says.

The BSF has explained the modus operandi and functioning of cartels that are pumping drugs from across the border.

The use of Pakistani mobile phones by Indian smugglers and vice versa to deceive intelligence agencies is one method being used to evade security agencies.

“SIM cards are frequently changed to hoodwink surveillance. Indian smugglers use Pakistani SIM cards and Pakistanis use Indian SIM cards. Transnational criminals contact each other from within and outside jails also,” the BSF report states.

Continued drug smuggling has resulted in the youth in Punjab falling prey to the menace in large numbers. Of late the issue has created a political stir in the state, with the Enforcement Directorate questioning Bikram Majithia, a minister in the Akali government and brother-in-law of Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal.

The state government in return has put the blame on BSF. Sources say the BSF has decided to give a detailed report to the Home Ministry listing the steps taken by the force and at the same time identifying the weaknesses in the mechanism to curb the drug racket.

“Non-availability of pucca (concrete) roads along the International Border in Punjab, suitable observation posts and obsolete infrastructure for border flood lights” are some of the factors put out by the BSF that make it difficult for them to crackdown on the menace.

The BSF has requested the Home Ministry for powers of technical surveillance for mobile and telephone interception since most of the drug deals are communicated on the phone.

The force believes that mobile interception will provide instant and concrete information and help in launching special operations.

The BSF has also listed several measures taken by the force to curb drug smuggling.

Effective domination of the border, using hi-tech surveillance equipment and upgrading the intelligence network along with better coordination with other agencies are some of the areas the BSF is working on to counter the menace.

Revealed: How Pakistan outfits drugged Punjab - Yahoo News India

 

[Sugarcane]

 

[syedali73]

Instead of trying the BSF officers/personnel who are involved in drug trafficking, the Indians are accusing Pakistan as usual. What a funny title, grammatically and structurally incorrect too.

 

[Yogijaat]

Instead of trying the BSF officers/personnel who are involved in drug trafficking, the Indians are accusing Pakistan as usual. What a funny title, grammatically and structurally incorrect too.

Agreed. They are hiding their incompetence by blaming pakistan.

 

[Sugarcane]

Instead of trying the BSF officers/personnel who are involved in drug trafficking, the Indians are accusing Pakistan as usual. What a funny title, grammatically and structurally incorrect too.

From same article

According to the BSF report, heroin and opium, the two drugs most smuggled, contribute to only five per cent of the substance abuse in Punjab.

Although evil Pakistan has waged drugs but still 95% drugs are locally produced. But yeah blame everything on Pakistan and all is well.

 

[Tshering22]

Akali Dal has no morality to blame the forces. They are the worst thing that has happened to Punjab. In the guise of calling themselves sikh, they have made Punjab into their family property.

But drugs is a real danger. Pakistan must also remember that it also has a valuable youth population that can get easy access to this and cause havoc in their country.

 

[Jaanbaz]

That means the BSF gets a cut and are now blaming Pakistan to hide their corruption.

 

[syedali73]

From same article

According to the BSF report, heroin and opium, the two drugs most smuggled, contribute to only five per cent of the substance abuse in Punjab.

Although evil Pakistan has waged drugs but still 95% drugs are locally produced. But yeah blame everything on Pakistan and all is well.

ANF (anti narcotic force) is among the most if not the most corrupt enforcement agency in Pakistan. The drugs that are primarily smuggled from Afghanistan into Pakistan simply cant make it if ANF was doing its job. Same is true for the similar enforcement agencies across the world.

 

[Sugarcane]

But drugs is a real danger. Pakistan must also remember that it also has a valuable youth population that can get easy access to this and cause havoc in their country.

Why don't mighty India stop the opium at it's source using cultural centers it already have there?

 

[Jaanbaz]

Akali Dal has no morality to blame the forces. They are the worst thing that has happened to Punjab. In the guise of calling themselves sikh, they have made Punjab into their family property.

But drugs is a real danger. Pakistan must also remember that it also has a valuable youth population that can get easy access to this and cause havoc in their country.

The youths have been exposed to large scale of drugs long ago mate. After Afghan war we have had all sorts of drugs and weapons in Pakistan.

 

[Kompromat]

You people cry for Afghanistan, whats wrong with giving you a taste of what its really like?

 

[Judge]

But drugs is a real danger. Pakistan must also remember that it also has a valuable youth population that can get easy access to this and cause havoc in their country.

Pakistani youth is already one of the most highly drug addicted classes in the world.

Pakistan doesn't give a damn about its people - that is the true beauty of this country. Whether they are getting electricity or are getting slaughtered, or that Pakistani people have widespread drug and weapons availability...Pakistan just does not care.

That is why, the onus on combating the cross border drug trade is entirely on India.

As far as home grown drugs are concerned, I thank the God that Opposition including AAP has made it an election point and BJP is subtly forcing Akali Dal's hand - they have been complicit in this drug trade and making money off it.

Why don't mighty India stop the opium at it's source using cultural centers it already have there?

Not our concern.
India can and should stop this at the borders. For all we care, Pakistan and the good/bad/xyz Taliban can have a collective smoke while looking towards Arabia and discussing the next best way to kill the infidels.

ANF (anti narcotic force) is among the most if not the most corrupt enforcement agency in Pakistan. The drugs that are primarily smuggled from Afghanistan into Pakistan simply cant make it if ANF was doing its job. Same is true for the similar enforcement agencies across the world.

That means the BSF gets a cut and are now blaming Pakistan to hide their corruption.

The problem is not BSF. They do their job okay with only individual level corruption.

There are push and pull factors in Punjab:

The true problem - Push problem - is the ruling political party in Punjab. They have gotten into the trade for money and not just turn a blind eye towards it but actually facilitate this. And they have grown filthy filthy rich in the process.

It is now becoming an election issue with opposition using it against them and resultantly, there is a greater crackdown on this now. Plus BJP at the Center is pushing them to end this as well(they are political allies in Punjab).

One can only hope that these efforts continues. BSF alone will not be able to do anything without the State Government throwing its weight against this. BSF will be next to useless if State Govt's support this.

The other problem - Pull problem - is that Punjab is a prosperous state. The people of Punjab no longer need to work hard for money. GoI's massive support for Green Revolution has led to vast agricultural lands, highly mechanized. High subsidy, free electricity for farming.
Few people are required for running the mechanization part who are hired from other States like Bihar and UP where labour is very cheap.

Only supervision is required and apart from that they have a lot of money and no job to do during the day - so their kids and all tend to drift to drugs and alcohol.

This is being slowly rectified because Punjab is now becoming an industrial state as opposed to just being a rich agricultural state.

 

[Butchcassidy]

Haha... Sukhbir singh badals saala is the biggest manufacturer of synthetic drugs.. Who ever is blaming pakistan is a retard

 

[Sugarcane]

India can and should stop this at the borders. For all we care, Pakistan and the good/bad/xyz Taliban can have a collective smoke while looking towards Arabia and discussing the next best way to kill the infidels.

Good - you should stop this at borders but just focusing on International Border will not do anything good for Indian Punjab, you have to work more on borders of Indian Punjab with other states as well. You may start with ending legal cover for Opium production in India.

 

[coffee_cup]

Dehati Aurat doing it again,