A major drug racket, which has spread its vicious tentacles targeting young students in schools and colleges in the twin cities, was unearthed in a joint operation by the Excise Enforcement Directorate and Task Force Officials.
Three youngsters were arrested during extensive raids conducted for the past two days and seized from them 700 units of LSD and 35 gms of MDMA worth over Rs.22 lakhs.
The king pin of the drug racket was stated to Kelvin Meckanes (29), a resident of Old Bowenpally. He along with Mohammed Quddhus (29) and Mohammed Abdul Wahid ( 20) of Chandrayangutta were stated to have started the drug racket.
It was stated that the operation of the drug mafia came to light by chance following an urgent SMS message on a cell phone by a nine-year old school kid to one of the arrested accused for supply of the drug. The three accused persons were stated to be targeting school and college students besides peddling the drugs to some prominent persons in Tollywood and also some businessmen.
It is stated that LSD is available in tablets, capsules or in liquid form. It is commonly added to absorbent paper and divided into small decorated squares. Each square is a dose is one of the most potent mood-changing chemicals and is derived from the extremely poisonous ergot fungus. Its effects are stated to be unpredictable. A tiny amount can produce 12 or more hours of effect. MMDA is commonly known as ecstasy and is psychoactive drug used primarily as a recreational drug.
The drug mafia was stated to have been thriving by peddling the narcotics to students studying in international schools, engineering colleges besides those connected with the film field. The Excise Enforcement Directorate has identified some of the schools and engineering colleges and also 21 VIPs. The accused used to import the narcotic substances from Chicago by camouflaging them in the form of books and essential medicines.
Concerned over the rapid spread of drug addiction among students and to identify the schools and colleges which the drug mafia was targeting and also identify those using the drugs in various circles, the Excise Enforcement Directorate has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT ) to deal with an iron fist to check the menace from spreading. Already notices were issued to four international schools and 10 engineering colleges, which were identified to have been targeted by the drug mafia.
The three accused persons were produced in the Nampally Court and were remanded to 14 days judicial custody. (NSS).