Catch the big fish

The seizure of a minuscule quantity of drugs by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) from a cruise ship has disproportionately grabbed the headlines, largely due to the arrest of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan along with others under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. A section of the media has been hyperventilating about the ‘high-profile’ case, even as the NCB has told the court that the matter has become like ‘the novels of Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes with new twists and turns every moment’. It’s not uncommon for celebrities to come under scrutiny for alleged consumption or possession of drugs. The law should no doubt take its course, but at the same time the apprehensions of a witch-hunt or playing to the gallery need to be allayed.

In stark contrast, the confiscation of around 3,000 kg of heroin at the Mundra port in Gujarat’s Kutch district last month hasn’t exactly sent shock waves through the country, even though the drug haul is regarded as one of the biggest ever in the world. The value of the seized contraband is estimated to be around Rs 21,000 crore in the international market. The ongoing investigation has pointed to an international racket’s involvement in the trafficking of drugs from Afghanistan to India via Iran. It’s such key players in the supply chain that the authorities need to focus on instead of the occasional consumer of ganja or charas. There should be zero tolerance for those who trade in synthetic drugs that are not only highly addictive but also life-threatening.

Ironically, the NDPS Act, which India enacted in 1985 after succumbing to American pressure, continues to have recreational substances such as cannabis on its list, while the US and some other western countries are legalising their use by adults and also allowing possession of small quantities. Our legislation needs to be revisited so that the consumption of relatively innocuous drugs can be decriminalised. Rooting out the hydra-headed drug menace requires long-term commitment. For a start, catch the big fish before going after the small fry.

Also read: Raid on cruise ship ‘fake’, no drugs found: Maharashtra minister