Ganja being sold in form of cigarettes in Nirmal

The ganja cigarettes are priced somewhere between Rs.50 and Rs.100 per each unit. They are being secretly sold at pan shops and groceries, said police sources.

Nirmal: Ganja is being sold in the form of cigarettes in the district headquarters, that too without fear.

Of late, ganja is wrapped in paper known as Odet-Cascadec-Bolloré (OCB), a brand of cigarette rolling paper manufactured by Republic Tobacco. The ganja cigarettes are priced somewhere between Rs.50 and Rs.100 per each unit. They are being secretly sold at pan shops and groceries, said police sources.

A few days ago, police conducted surprise raids on pan shops and groceries and recovered large quantities of OCB papers. The discovery of the papers has startled police officials, who said ganja was peddled in the form of chocolates and powder so far, but now in cigarette form as well.

Police suspected that the ganja cigarettes were being packed in boxes containing branded cigarettes. The OCB papers are being brought from Hyderabad under the guise of certain authorized tobacco products. The peddlers are targeting youngsters of the town including school and college students using agents.

They are using special codes to sell the substance at panshops and the outlets near NTR mini stadium, Mahalaxmiwada, Sofinagar and many other parts of the town. Sources said that the menace is was slowly moving into Bhainsa and Khanapur towns, worrying parents and police as well.

When asked, Nirmal SP Dr Janaki Sharmila said teams were formed to nab the masterminds behind the menace. Special focus was laid to clamp down the sale of ganja cigarettes, she said, adding that traders, transporters and courier services were under scanner. Notices would be given to suspected traders.

Similarly, police were counselling family members of youngsters who are addicted to ganja. They are explaining the adverse impacts on health due to smoking and legal consequences of their act. Cases were also registered against habitual offenders.