MUMBAI: The police regularly picks up drug peddlers and pushers who are lodged in Arthur Road jail for the duration of their trials. But their business doesn’t stop, only their clientele changes. They shift from Mumbai’s street junkies and society addicts to the many customers available in jail itself.
The pushers, mainly Africans, take orders from the inmates and use their court dates and hospital visits to procure the required drugs, through their established networks. Heroin and cannabis are the most wanted, cocaine somewhat less so. These drugs are then smuggled into jail.
Investigations prove that there is some collusion with police and jail officials. Currently, 55 Africans are lodged in Arthur Road jail on drug-related offences. About 300 of the inmates are likely to be addicts.
DNA investigates the modus operandi that gets drugs into jails.
John Paul has been peddling drugs in India for years. Earlier, he and his friend Steven Carlos were on the Colaba beat. Now Paul specialises in a new clientele — the jail bird. Because he’s one himself. Paul was arrested under the NDPS in November 2005. He used to live in Mira Road with his wife, having come to India pretending to be a garment exporter. Now he lives in Barrack Number 3 of Arthur Road jail. Paul is 35, 6 ft tall and well-built. He is an addict himself. Paul is one of the 55 Africans currently in Arthur Road jail on assorted drug charges.
Paul has to go to the special NDPS court at the Sessions Court in Kala Ghoda. This makes him a very special man. The day before his court date, inmates give him their requirement lists— from cocaine and heroin downward. Paul’s associates still function in Dongri, Kurla and Colaba. Paul is a regular in court, so he has a nod, a wink, a smile for the staff and the constables. As soon as he enters the court, he slips the list to the waiting Carlos — today, 10 gm of heroin, 100 gm of charas and 10 portions of cannabis. Carlos is back with the pouch in 30 minutes, just as Paul’s hearing is about to end.
A bribe slipped to the police escort allows Paul two toilet visits. Carlos meets him in the loo and hands over the package. Paul hides it around his private parts, to fool the friskers. Sometimes, he has to also bribe jail officials.
Antony Savio has a different modus operandi. He has been Arthur Road jail since May 2005. He uses his hospital visits and his wife Tina’s help to keep up the supply of drugs in jail. Tina brings the stuff in homeopathic medicine bottles, ether straws, cigarettes and gutkha packets. The police are sympathetic, so frisking is minimal.
Paul and Savio, now very popular when they get back, are very careful about whom the drugs are given to. Usually, their favourites from the 300 suspected addicts. Transactions are measured in pinches or bottle caps. Jail coupons, the official prison currency, are used for payment. Inmates get Rs 12 worth of coupons a day. One gm of heroin costs about Rs 5 in coupons, one gm of cocaine costs Rs 8. If any inmates have real money, they may also use that.
Names have been changed. Sources: under trials, police officers, ward boys and jail officials
‘We monitor officials too’
An interview with Shreekant Savarkar, Inspector General, (Prisons):
What are the most common drugs that are smuggled into the prisons?
Opium, charas, cannabis and heroin are the most common drugs. Cocaine is rare. Two inmates were arrested with 5gm charas in Kalyan jail on Monday.
What action is taken to control the situation?
We conduct searches and sudden raids. We seize the material from inmates and register cases against them.
Are the jail authorities hand-in-glove with the drug smugglers?
It may not be true. But we keep a close watch on those officials who have a dubious history. We monitor their actions and take disciplinary action, if required.
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