Drug trafficking, especially the trade in brown sugar, has shown a significant increase in Odisha since the outbreak of corona pandemic which has forced a large number of people to stay indoors.

Huge consignments of brown sugar have been seized in the state during the past five months, the haul being double the quantity of the drug confiscated in the past eight years. Sudden rise in the trade of this banned contraband was in focus on Sunday when authorities seized 3.285kg of brown sugar.

The office of Director General of Police (DGP) in a press release said: “The magnitude of such seizures will become evident from the fact that the total seizure of 2020 till date by Special Task Force (STF) alone is more than then total cumulative seizure made by Odisha (all agencies of Odisha police) for the last eight years.”

All the brown sugar seizures this year have been made during the past five months since the second week of March. The first lockdown in Odisha following the coronavirus attack began on March 22. Sources said that during this period till date Odisha police’s crime branch has seized 15.648kg of brown sugar including 3.285kg seized on Sunday whereas between 2013 and 2019 only 7.236kg of the substance had been seized.

The latest haul of brown sugar was reported from Kuliana in Mayurbhanj district, about 240km from here. “Due to sustained drive in 2020 so far STF alone has seized 15kg 6,48g of brown sugar and detected 20 cases against the drug peddlers. So far, STF arrested as many as 40 drug peddlers,” said the press release from DGP’s office.

Sources said that crime branch STF had seized 1.749kg of brown sugar on March 11, 2.729kg on March 19, 1.008kg on June 2, 4.458kg on June 19 and 3.285kg on July 19 this year.

“These are the few biggest seizures we have cited. Even brown sugar with small quantities has also been seized at different stages,” officials maintained. The cost of brown sugar in the market is Rs 1crore.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Special Task Force of Crime Branch, J.N. Pankaj told The Telegraph, “Because of the lockdown, there is a short supply of liquor and other intoxicating substances. Those addicted to liquors have switched to some or other kind of narcotic drug. There is a sudden demand for these substances. And when there is demand there is supply also.”

“Besides joblessness and growing frustration, especially among the younger people, has also pushed the demand for drugs. Many think it’s a chance to make easy money,” said the officer.

Psychiatrists feel that isolation, boredom and frustrations are the factors responsible for the rise in drug abuse. Dr Seema Parija, a psychiatrist at SCB Medical College told this newspaper, “In the wake of lockdown psychiatrists were expecting a spike in the number of patients with withdrawal symptoms. But we have been proved wrong with people having continued access to drugs.”

The use of alcohol, ganja , brown sugar has increased due to isolation, loss of a routine life, boredom and frustration. But this is a worrying trend as people going out to buy their daily fix expose themselves to the risk of contracting coronavirus.”