Wants them to develop a system to identify drugs often concealed in sheets of paper or in books

The online retail boom has changed the face of consumerism, but the trend has ushered in a new kind of delivery service: illegal drugs, including stimulants and psychedelics, are delivered to your doorstep unwittingly by courier companies. These drugs are purchased online through the darknet (the internet’s illegal black market where anything is for sale).

To nip this trend in the bud, the narcotics wing of the city’s Central Crime Branch (CCB) is planning to meet courier companies.

The CCB wants courier agencies, especially the smaller ones, to develop a system to identify drugs, which are often concealed in sheets of paper or inside books.

“We will ask them to scan every parcel and also ask for the identity of the sender along with proof,” said a source.

While some parcels are delivered to the recipient’s home, others take the precaution of using fake addresses.

They track the consignment online and collect the parcel from the office of the courier company.

‘Difficult to track’

Sunil Kumar Sinha, zonal director, Narcotics Control Bureau, Bengaluru, says, “It is very difficult to track dealings done through the darknet. Even financial transactions are virtual.” His team is training courier agencies to identify narcotic substances concealed in parcels.

A senior CCB officer says, “It’s very difficult to track online trade, because these drugs are ordered in small quantities from one’s home.” The police are currently investigating three youths who allegedly ordered a shipment of drugs though the darknet.

In 2016, the CCB has registered 13 cases of drug seizures across all platforms – traditional and online. “Seizures range from ganja (cannabis), cocaine, methaqualone, opium, LSD, ephedrine, ecstasy and ketamine. The smugglers have clients in every strata of the society – from corporate clients to students,” said a CCB officer.

The CCB has also been creating awareness about drug abuse in colleges. “We have deputed staff and deployed decoys to nab people who sell narcotics near educational institutions,” the officer added.

It is very difficult to track online trade of drugs, because these substances are ordered in small quantities from one’s home

A senior CCB officer

Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act

2013 – 15 cases

2014 – 10 cases

2015 - 16 cases

2016 – 13 cases