Ganja sale on the rise in dists: NCB

Madurai: Consumption of ganja (marijuana) has become rampant among school and college students in Madurai and surrounding districts as the narcotic substance is freely available at a very lesser price, according to the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) here.
Talking about drug abuse among students, an NCB official said that sale of ganja is more common on the Vaigai riverbed.Officials say that older men and women are involved in the sale of ganja at Rs 5. Intelligence officer, NCB, J Dhanraj said, "We realized during our raids in the city that school students tend to purchase 'marijuana' which is sold at Rs 5 which is cheaper for them."
In areas like Teppakulam in the city, hawkers sell something which is called 'Nakku Mittai' which children enjoy the most. 'Nakku Mittai' is generally sold where more schools are situated and it found spiked with a drug-like chemical. "I have personally seen students eating them. We also found that drug-like chemical was spiked in it that caused a major addiction among the children. We are yet to ascertain the drug-like chemical," said another NCB official.
According to the NCB, only two cases were registered in Virudhunagar district under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 in 2015, while no cases were registered in 2016.
"We seized around 2kg ganja in Rajapalayam and 2.44 kg Alprazolam powder (used in toddy) in Thalavaipuram bus stand in 2015," Dhanraj said.
NCB conducts drug awareness programmes in schools and colleges in the city. From July 2014 to February 2016, around 46 awareness programs were conducted by the bureau across schools and colleges in the city.