Bengaluru: While the city police is fighting drug peddling and carrying out awareness drives against drug abuse, the drug peddlars are using novel methods to outwit them.
During some recent arrests the police got to know that the peddlers were now using WhatsApp messenger to carry out their trade.
They create WhatsApp groups with the consumers and sell drugs.
The police said though it is not a new method, but it is giving them a tough time as unlike phone calls and normal text messages, it is difficult to track WhatsApp messages.
The recent arrest of a Nigerian national, who was peddling drugs to college students and corporate employees, brought this modus operandi to light.
Police seized 8.5 lakh worth drugs from the accused, identified as Henry C. He was getting in touch with consumers solely through WhatsApp.
A senior police officer said, “During the interrogation the accused revealed that the WhatsApp group was convenient way of getting in touch with his customers. Through this messenger service, he would fix a place and time to sell drugs. The accused was aware that it is not possible to track WhatsApp messages unlike phone calls and normal messages.”
There are plans to adopt technology to track down such WhatsApp group to curb the drug peddling menace. The police officers agree that tracking WhatsApp message is next to impossible, but they still want to try by roping in private tech experts.
A senior police officer told Deccan Chronicle, “We are aware that drug peddling with the help of WhatsApp is on the rise and we want to try in somehow track these people. To execute this we are planning to rope in private tech experts, who can help us in giving leads about such groups and by whom it is being operated. We will inform the Cyber crime team and see how it can be worked out.”
When contacted, a Cyber crime department official said, “It is not possible to track WhatsApp messages, as it is encrypted. But we still want to try to know if there is a possibility, as the peddlers are aware that WhatsApp is the best source for them to keep in touch with the
consumers, as they cannot be tracked. We will approach private tech experts and see if they can help us,”
He said that drug peddling has become a serious issue and the Home Minister has ordered to use all possible ways to curb the menace. “We will go all out to ensure that drug peddling comes to a complete halt," he added.
