Stolen Bikes For Ganja: Lucrative Drug Trade Targets Nellore Youth

Investigators say some youths are stealing two-wheelers and exchanging them for ganja along the AP-Odisha border before reselling the narcotic for huge profits in local markets.

The illegal trade, they say, has become highly lucrative, with a kilogram of ganja procured from border areas fetching up to `1.5 lakh to `2 lakh in retail sales after being split into small packets.

The huge profits have attracted youngsters into the drug network, fuelling both property crimes and narcotics trafficking.

The police also noticed a new method of luring students into substance abuse. What appears to be an ordinary chocolate or confectionery item sold in colourful sachets is being used as a gateway product.

In one instance, the education and police authorities were alerted after a teacher noticed a student repeatedly kept a chocolate-like substance under his tongue. Inquiries revealed that the product contained small quantities of ganja and nicotine designed to induce drowsiness and dependency.

Officials estimate that nearly 100 students from Class X, Intermediate and Engineering colleges have been identified as users of ganja-laced products or other narcotic substances. Investigators believe the problem extends beyond isolated incidents, with organised networks operating in urban centres and industrial areas.

Students and young peddlers are reportedly sourcing ganja from the Odisha border regions and transporting it through trains, buses and road networks into coastal towns including Nellore, Kavali and Gudur.

The illicit trade is believed to be generating lakhs of rupees every month.

In response, SPSR Nellore SP, Ajitha Vejendla, has intensified anti-drug operations across the district. Police have stepped up surveillance around educational institutions, conducted special raids in vulnerable localities, seized vehicles suspected to be linked to drug transportation and launched awareness drives for students and parents.

While acknowledging the challenges in dismantling the clandestine supply chain, police say enforcement alone is not enough. Counselling sessions are being conducted for students, drug detection kits are being used to identify substance abuse, and efforts are under way to strengthen rehabilitation measures for affected youth.

Ajitha said they are involving social organisations and NGOs in the campaign against narcotics and advocating the establishment of a dedicated de-addiction and counselling centre in the district.

With peddlers increasingly targeting youngsters through deceptive products and easy access to drugs, the authorities warn that parental vigilance, community participation and sustained police action will be critical in preventing more youth from being drawn into the dangerous cycle of addiction, crime and drug trafficking.