Nigerian gangs use NE women for drug trafficking

New Delhi, Jul 14 : Anti-narcotic agents are worried over the increasing use of Indian women, sex workers included, by Nigerian cartels to smuggle out drugs. Until recently, Nigerian gangs in India were sending out heroin sourced from Afghanistan via Pakistan to Europe through unsuspecting courier companies. The traffickers would mostly conceal the drugs inside photo frames. They paid heavy service charges - no questions asked.

The modus operandi came to light when one booking agent found white powder leaking from a sealed parcel booked by a Nigerian. He opened it — only to find drugs.The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and Delhi Police cracked down immediately.

And then the Nigerian gangs changed tracks. “These days Nigerian drug syndicates have become extra smart. Now they do not book courier parcels themselves. They are exploiting girls from (northeastern) states,” NCB zonal director Sandeep Mittal told IANS.

“They first befriend those who are into prostitution. They lure them into drug trafficking by promising handsome sums of money. Some fall into their trap, unknowingly or knowingly,” Mittal added.

A study by Guwahati-based NGO Global Organisation for Life Development (GOLD) along with the police revealed that a shocking 20 percent involved in prostitution in the region were aged 11-17 years. Titled “Rise in Child Prostitution in Northeast”, the study lists poverty and displacement because of violence as prime reasons behind the increase in the number of young commercial sex workers in the region.

Asked how the Nigerian gangs touch base with Indian women, a top functionary of NCB said: “It is very simple. They meet them in bars and other happening places.

“They buy them drinks and exploit them. Before parting they request the women to do them a favour by booking a parcel with a courier company. At times they pay extra money to these women.

“Sometimes these women are aware what is in the parcel but mostly they are generally unaware.”

Places in the Indian capital where Nigerian gangs are said to be active include Satya Niketan, Munirka, Sadfarjung Enclave, Ber Sarai and Jiya Sarai in south Delhi and parts of north Delhi.

According to data with Delhi Police, around 2,500 Nigerians live in Delhi. NCB officials however put the figure at 8,000. Officials say most of them are living illegally without any genuine passport or with expired visa.

“The situation is slowly slipping out of our hands. We immediately need to take precautionary measures against Nigerian drug traffickers or they would spoil our young,” a Delhi Police officer said.

Presently more than 70 Nigerians are lodged in Delhi’s Tihar Central Jail. While 65 are on trial, 10 have been convicted.

IANS

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ULFA’s 28 Bn cadres move into designated camp

Guwahati, Jul 13 : Recent announcement of unilateral ceasefire by the A and C companies of the 28 battalion of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) raised questions in the minds of the people on whether history will repeat itself as in the past also the charter of demands placed by the surrendered ULFA members before the Government remained in cold storage and the problem of militancy remained as before. Meanwhile, the ULFA members who are supporting the ceasefire, have started moving into the designated camp set up at Sadiya.

Police sources said that the leaders of A and C companies of the 28 battalion have submitted a list of 67 cadres who would move into the designated camp and they have started moving in from yesterday. Sources said that the maintenance of the camp would be looked into by the Government and the inmates of the camp would not be allowed to indulge in extortions or collect donations in the name of maintaining the camps. The security of those in ceasefire would be looked into by the police.Police said that according to the leaders of the 28 battalion, 52 other members of the A and C companies, including 40 new recruits, are in Myanmar and they are likely to come over whenever they get an opportunity.

Meanwhile, former ULFA publicity secretary Sunil Nath, who came over ground in 1992, expressed the view that it would be difficult to find permanent solution of the problem till the top leaders of the ULFA come forward for talks. He also pointed out that meaningful dialogue with those who came over ground in 1992 on the basis of the charter of demands would have weakened the leadership of the ULFA, but at that time, the Government did not take the opportunity.

A number of senior leaders of the ULFA came over ground in 1992 and the general secretary of the outfit Anup Chetia was arrested in Kolkata. A team of those surrendered leaders comprising Anup Chetia, Sunil Nath, Kalpajyoti Neog, Amarjyoti Handique and others also met the then Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao and Home Minister SB Chavan and expressed their willingness to hold talks.

Recalling the events at that time, Nath said, “we also told the Prime Minister that we are ready for talks within the framework of the Constitution of India. We demanded that the Government should announce a cease-fire to create a congenial atmosphere for talks.” However, he admitted that at that time also, the ULFA commander in chief Paresh Baruah was not in favour of talks with the Government of India. After the meeting with the Prime Minister, Anup Chetia said that he would go to convince the other senior leaders for talks and was released. But he never came back.

In the meantime, the surrendered militants held a convention in Bokakhat in Golaghat district and submitted a charter of demands to the State Government. Nath said that one of the major demands placed by them before the Government was setting up of multipurpose projects for controlling floods and to generate power. The charter of demands also included demands for overall economic development of Assam. But the State Government held only two rounds of talks and then the charter of demands was put in cold storage.

Nath said that at that time, the ULFA was in total disarray but failure of the Government to hold meaningful dialogue on the charter of demands helped the ULFA to gain ground. He expressed the view that since then though a number of members of the ULFA came over ground, new people entered the outfit and it is unlikely that the problem would be solved till the top leaders come forward for talks.

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