RAWALPINDI, July 9: The supply of narcotics has increased in the city during the past couple of months and more and more young men and women are getting hooked on it, police sources told Dawn.

The district police chief, Mr Moravat Shah, said on Tuesday, he had received the list of traffickers in the city from Anti-Narcotics Force and would soon launch an operation. He accepted that addiction rate was high.

He said the rate of recovery had increased in the police stations this year as compared to last year and also registered higher number of cases.

It is learnt that drugs are delivered to the end users in the streets, mostly by young women and teenaged boys. Because of the involvement of women in drug trafficking, their number among addicts was also rising. The traffickers are in the age group of 15-40 years.

To evade the law enforcing agencies, a number of drug pushers have started taking orders, from their customers, on mobile phones and delivers the good at a place best suited to them.

The traffickers, taking advantage of the change in the policy regarding arrest of addicts, have started using addicts for delivering small quantities to the customers, as it involves lesser risk of being nabbed.

In the new policy, the police have increased the minimum amount of drug required to arrest a drug pusher and are no longer interested in nabbing the addicts.

According to the rules of business, new customers are accepted after being introduced by a known user.

Heroin is the most commonly used drug followed by cannabis and opium. There has been an increasing trend of use of injections among the addicts, which has lead to a rapid rise in diseases, such as hepatitis, among others.

The addicts, who use heroin spend Rs100 to Rs150 daily for 1.5gm, while those using cannabis spend Rs50 to Rs80 per day. The addicts have complained that the narcotics being sold are not pure.

Interviews with addicts showed that traffickers based in different areas are local people and drugs are being supplied to them by the Pathans and Afghans, who bring these narcotics from the NWFP.

The prime centre supplying drugs to most parts of the interior city is located in Dalda Sarai in Bagh Sardaran. There are around 25 traffickers in this area and the narcotics from here are supplied to Raja Bazaar, Chungi No 4, Akalgarh and Dhoke Dalal. Both heroin and cannabis are sold in these areas and use of liquor is also common.

In Bakramandi, this business is being run from six houses located in Mohalla Shah Faisal. Interestingly enough, these houses are located in front of the police post, who, according to the people, are fully aware of the illicit trade being carried out in those houses. These people have been doing business in the area for over a decade now.

Trafficking in the area is carried out mostly by young girls of 20 to 30 years. They get orders on telephone. It is also learnt that these girls supply drugs to other parts of the city and in Islamabad. These girls bring their goods directly from Peshawar.

The traffickers in the area do not sell narcotics in small quantity. The smallest order is nothing less than Rs150g of heroin.

The other major supply point is the glass factory area. There are over 100 peddlers, mostly young boys and girls, are based in Mohalla Mehmood Ali Shah. They are all related to each other.

Sometime back, this centre had been closed down, by the then corps commander, who had tightened the noose around the traffickers. The illicit business has resumed in the area. Pathans coming from Peshawar reportedly supply the narcotics to the peddlers.

Some drug pushers are also based in Mohalla Chah Sultan. They were formerly scavengers and are now leading a life of luxury.

The peddlers in this area do not supply narcotics at one spot, rather deliver it while driving rickshaws at different spots, mostly around Murree Road, Rawal Road and neighbouring Mohallas.

In Sadiqabad, a reputed family living close to Charah Chowk is in this business. However, it was learnt that they deal in major sales.

In areas close to Marir Chowk and Liaquat Bagh the supply is mostly carried out from Marir Hassan. In areas between Ariya Mohalla and Dhoke Illahi Bukhsh, this trade is being done by some people, who are known in the area as milkmen.

Sources revealed that narcotics were sold in the slums along I J Principal Road stretching from New Katarian and beyond Pirwadhai More. The slums also supply drugs to other points in the city.

There have been reports, though unconfirmed, that drugs are available even inside the Adiala jail, a recently released prisoner, who is also an addict, said.