‘Young, educated population with disposable income prime target for drug dealers’

Once known as the ‘Garden City’ and ‘Pensioner’s Paradise,’ Bengaluru is now witnessing a growing problem -- narcotics trade. The illegal market is thriving, and drug busts have become common in the last three years.

Once known as the ‘Garden City’ and ‘Pensioner’s Paradise,’ Bengaluru is now witnessing a growing problem -- narcotics trade. The illegal market is thriving, and drug busts have become common in the last three years.

The rise of the narcotics trade in Bengaluru can be attributed to various factors. One of the primary reasons is the city’s position as a major hub for the tech industry. The population is young and educated, with a high disposable income. This demographic is particularly vulnerable to drug abuse and has become a prime target for drug dealers.

Another reason is the porous border between Karnataka and neighbouring States, particularly Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. The city’s location at the crossroads of several major highways makes it a hub for drug trafficking, with suppliers and consumers coming from across the country.

The most commonly traded narcotics in Bengaluru are cannabis, known locally as ganja, and synthetic drugs like MDMA and LSD. The majority of consumers are young adults in their 20s and 30s, with a significant number of college students and IT professionals among them.

The modus operandi of drug dealers is constantly evolving, and there are many to deal with, making it difficult for law enforcement agencies to keep up with their numbers. The most common methods include smuggling drugs into the city in small quantities through various means, including couriers, postal services, and private vehicles. Once the drugs arrive, they are distributed through a network of dealers across the city. Many a time, they misuse app-based online service delivery, and the payment is made through commonly available unified payments interface (UPI) gateways.

Despite the challenges posed by the constantly evolving modus operandi of drug dealers, law enforcement agencies have been conducting several drug busts regularly in the last three years. The data show that the Bengaluru city police have taken a tough stance on narcotics and drug trafficking in recent years. The number of cases booked and drugs seized increased significantly between 2020 and 2022.

In 2020, the police booked 2,766 cases, recovered 3,912.826 kg of drugs, and arrested 3,673 people, including peddlers and consumers. The total worth of the drugs seized was ₹21.4 crore.