WOMEN CONTROL HALF OF DRUG TRADE

NEW DELHI: Women are more than equal partners to men in the Capital's drug
trade. In several pockets, they have even outdone their male counterparts
in terms of trade volumes. At least 15 women drug dealers, some from
affluent backgrounds, are said to be active in the city. They account for
almost half the drug trade, estimated to have a turnover of Rs 100 crore.

"Till two decades ago, most of them were operating as bootleggers from
congested areas. But bigger profit margins and changing customer preference
saw them graduating to the drug trade," said DCP narcotics D L Kashyap.

In fact, five of these 15 women are operating independently.

"The activities of these 'self-made' women drug dealers are concentrated
mainly around Sultanpuri, Mangolpuri and Rohini," said an official. Usha
Kumar is one of them. Till 10 years ago, her husband was earning a living
as a cycle-rickshaw puller. But when she was arrested in April this year,
Rs 49,000 in cash and three kg of smack were found in her house in Ashok Nagar.

From 1998 to July this year, 37 women involved in this trade have been
arrested. The major seizures were from Vijay Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Vishwas
Nagar and Kashmere Gate. Women are initiated in the drug trade as carriers.
"A woman carrier evokes lesser suspicion.

Also, it's not always possible to frisk her as woman police don't patrol so
often," said a police official.

Women are encouraged to work in groups and even involve their kin,
specifically their teenaged daughters.

This is more common in women from nomadic tribes. One such case came to
light in Parmanand Colony, where Jahir, a woman drug dealer, was arrested
along with her woman accomplice, code-named "Cobra". In some West Delhi
colonies, women dealers have trained their girls to cater to customers.