Dates laced with narcotics on sale at paan shops in Allahabad

lucknow

Updated: Aug 02, 2017 15:06 IST

After hookah lounges, paan shops in Allahabad are under police scanner for selling dried dates laced with narcotic substances.

Led by circle officer, Civil Lines, Shreesh Chandra, a police team raided shops near the AG office and Balson Road in the last two days and seized half-a-dozen jars of dried dates reportedly laced with narcotic substances.

The police booked six shopowners under the Excise Act and have sent dried dates to laboratory for examination. Some people who were purchasing dates were also detained.

Sources claimed that dates were boiled with opium and laced with ‘bhaang’.

Chandra said primary investigation revealed that “flavoured dates” were prepared in Indore (Madhya Pradesh) and supplied to other states through middlemen.

“These are sold in kilograms and supplied in small quantities to retailers. The customers purchase it for Rs 15-40 per piece according to the quality. Some shops in Civil Lines have been found selling flavoured dates but it may be available in other parts of the district and other cities as well,” he added.

A massive drive is being carried out in several cities, including Allahabad and Lucknow, against hookah parlours and lounges. The flavours have been sent to the laboratory for examination as the police suspect it contains drugs.

The report of the food safety and drugs administration in Lucknow recently confirmed that it contained narcotics substances not good for health.