NARCOTICS PRODUCTION ON THE RISE

KOLKATA - Despite a crackdown on organised drug syndicates in
border districts of West Bengal, some heroin manufacturing units have
come up in Nadia and Murshidabad recently.

According to a report of the Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB),
cultivation of poppy and opium couldn't be totally stopped in these
two districts inspite of a massive operation launched jointly by
central and state law enforcing agencies and district authorities.
"It is true that cultivation of poppy and opium couldn't be
eradicated totally due to various reasons. Poppy cultivation is being
carried out in remote places and it is difficult for police to
conduct raids there. To add to it, getting information on such
illegal activities is also very difficult. As a result, some farmers
are getting involved in heroin manufacturing through opium," Mr K
Shankar, zonal director, NCB told The Statesman. "We have asked
district administration in Nadia and Murshidabad to ensure round the
clock police presence in some places where heoin is reportedly being
manufactured," said Mr K Shankar, zonal director, NCB. He, however,
claimed that they have successfully reduced cultiv! ation of poppy in
Nadia and Murshidabad in the last two years.

Earlier, members of drug syndicates used to bring heroin to West
Bengal from Rajasthan and some other northern states. Now, they have
started manufacturing heroin, although in small scale, in West Bengal.

According to NCB sources, reports of heroin manufacturing came from
Kaligunge, Tehatta in Nadia and Lalgola in Murshidabad districts. "We
have reports that heroin is being manufactured in small scale in some
remote places of these blocks to meet local consumption," Mr Shankar
said.

"Till 2006, cultivation of poppy took place in a large scale in these
two districts. Because of strong surveillance and a massive
crackdown, we managed to destroy poppy cultivation to a large extent
in the past two years. But cultivation of poppy is still taking
place in some isolated places. The heroin manufacturing units have
come up in these two districts between 2003 and 2006," said a senior
NCB official. NCB officials feel that cultivation of poppy and
manufacturing of heroin cannot be stopped unless members of all drug
syndicates are nabbed and punished. An official said that the members
of the drug syndicates are encouraging farmers to cultivate poppy.
They are luring the farmers with attractive remuneration for poppy
cultivation in a large scale.

On why the authorities have failed to totally eradicate poppy
cultivation, Mr Shankar said: "It is very difficult to identify the
plots where cultivation of poppy is taking place. Poppy is being
cultivated in remote places jointly with other crops."