Pubdate: Sat, 01 Sep 2001
Source: Times of India, The (India)
Copyright: Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. 2001
Contact:  http://www.timesofindia.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/453
Author: Rahul Chhabra, Times News Network
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/women.htm (Women)

WOMEN CONTROL HALF OF DRUG TRADE

NEW DELHI: Women are more than equal partners to men in the Capital's drug 
trade. In several pockets, they have even outdone their male counterparts 
in terms of trade volumes. At least 15 women drug dealers, some from 
affluent backgrounds, are said to be active in the city. They account for 
almost half the drug trade, estimated to have a turnover of Rs 100 crore.

"Till two decades ago, most of them were operating as bootleggers from 
congested areas. But bigger profit margins and changing customer preference 
saw them graduating to the drug trade," said DCP narcotics D L Kashyap.

In fact, five of these 15 women are operating independently.

"The activities of these 'self-made' women drug dealers are concentrated 
mainly around Sultanpuri, Mangolpuri and Rohini," said an official. Usha 
Kumar is one of them. Till 10 years ago, her husband was earning a living 
as a cycle-rickshaw puller. But when she was arrested in April this year, 
Rs 49,000 in cash and three kg of smack were found in her house in Ashok Nagar.

 From 1998 to July this year, 37 women involved in this trade have been 
arrested. The major seizures were from Vijay Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Vishwas 
Nagar and Kashmere Gate. Women are initiated in the drug trade as carriers. 
"A woman carrier evokes lesser suspicion.

Also, it's not always possible to frisk her as woman police don't patrol so 
often," said a police official.

Women are encouraged to work in groups and even involve their kin, 
specifically their teenaged daughters.

This is more common in women from nomadic tribes. One such case came to 
light in Parmanand Colony, where Jahir, a woman drug dealer, was arrested 
along with her woman accomplice, code-named "Cobra". In some West Delhi 
colonies, women dealers have trained their girls to cater to customers.
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