Ahmedabad: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) here has nabbed a local smuggler of Charas with 3 kg of the contraband stuff, who has claimed that the demonetization move has also affected their business and ‘soared’ the prices of such stuffs manifold owing to scanty supply.

NCB Zonal Director Hari Om Gandhi today said that one Sayed Alimuddin (60) a resident of Gomtipur area in the city was nabbed yesterday from Sabarmati railway station with the Charas on a specific information.

”He was formally arrested today after his confession. During interrogation he said that the Charas was supplied to him via Delhi by a Kashmir based smuggler Bashir, who was a part of such rackets om the valley. Alimuddin also said that he was supposed to receive a larger consignment of Charas of at least around 12 to 13 kg of it but owing demonetization caused scanty supply it could not happen. He admitted that he also faced fund crunch as the Rs 500 and 1000 notes lying with him had become useless. The scrapping of notes has also hit the entire chain of smuggling,’ Mr Gandhi said.

The NCB Director also said that the demonetization has also hit the supply of Charas and other such items. ‘Now its price in the domestic market which earlier on was at somewhere around Rs 1.5 to 2 lakh per kg has now gone up to 7 to 8 lakhs a kg. This way the seized Charas is worth around 21 to 24 lakh now.

DeshGujarat