Women Running Drug Syndicates In Bhopal, 2 Dozen Held In 4 Years

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The fight against drug menace appears tough as women take over drug syndicates in Bhopal. For decades, the women have been involved in drug peddling and smuggling.

Now, they are running drug cartels. Police records reveal that over two dozen women involved in drugs, charas and marijuana smuggling were arrested in last four years, that is, from 2020 to 2024.

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In many cases, they were found running the syndicates themselves and in other cases they helped their husbands. Majority of arrested women belonged to Bhopal while one was from Mumbai and another from Bihar.

The arrested women were involved in smuggling of marijuana and other contraband from Rajasthan, Odisha and other states and selling them to local dealers. The women working in an organised manner have developed a network and chain to supply drugs and marijuana.

Police officials said many women arrested in the crime were helping their husbands in drugs and ganja smuggling. However, many of them were found working alone with the help of the other gang members. Despite being arrested under NDPS Act multiple times, the women were back to the old business once released on bail.

In 2021, crime branch arrested a woman Ruby Asim with 45 grams of brown sugar worth Rs 2.5 lakh.

Women have been actively selling marijuana in Itwara area of old city. In October last year, police arrested a 50-year-old woman Munnibai Kuchbundia with 700 grams of marijuana near Central Library Ground. Later, Talaiya police arrested two women from the same locality with marijuana.

On February 25, this year crime branch arrested Deepak and his wife Puja with 10 kilograms of ganja worth Rs 1.8 lakh. Questioning from them revealed that Puja was active with her husband in smuggling of the contraband.

In a major haul, crime branch seized 8.4 kilograms of charas from Amir Qureshi and his wife Zahida in Barkheda Salam area in October last year. They smuggled charas with help of gang member Prateek Mishra. Police also seized their luxury car and sum of Rs 2 lakh found with them.

In February this year, crime branch arrested Kiran Kushwaha (31) of Govindpura area with 6.3 kilograms of marijuana worth Rs 1.3 lakh. Kiran confessed to have brought the contraband for selling it to local peddlers.

Woman held with ganja

On Wednesday, crime branch nabbed Nishatpura resident Sudha Shrivas (50) with 1.5 kilograms of marijuana. Investigations revealed that Sudha was running a drug supply gang. Ayodha Nagar police also arrested Rahul Vishwakarma and Gautam Jain with 1.5 kilograms of marijuana.