Drugs and Penalty
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, NDPS Act 1985

Ngangom Tejkumar *

Rally on Intl Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking :: June 2009

The phenomenon of drug users and its impact has been a global problem and this phenomenon has been increasing in the form of drug abuse and drug trafficking. The illicit cultivation of narcotic plants and illicit processing of drugs have an adverse effect not only in the human being but also on the environment.

Now an Act, called "Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances", NDPS Act 1985 has been enforced in Manipur to curb and punish the wrong doers. Under this Act, a separate provision for prosecuting and penalizing the drug abusers and traffickers has been clearly laid down.

The different categories of drugs and narcotic substances with corresponding penalties to be imposed are reflecting hereunder:-

NO.4 (Heroin Powder)

Whoever manufactures, possesses, sells, purchases, transports, import-state, export interstate in contravention with NDPS Act shall be punished in accordance with the quantum of drugs, in the following manner:-

i) If the quantum of drug is 5 gram, it is called Small Quantity and the offender shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term up to 6 months with fine up to Rs 10,000/-

ii) If the quantum of drug is above 5 grams and below 250 grams, the offender shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment up to 10 years with fine up to 1 lakh rupees.

iii) If the quantum of drug is 250 grams and above, it is called Commercial Quantity and the offender shall be imprisoned rigorously for a term which shall not be less than 10 years and which may be extended to 20 years with fine not less than 1 lakh and upto 2 lakhs rupees.

Ganja (Cannabis)

i) If the quantum of seized Ganja is 1000 grams , it is called Small Quantity and the offender shall be punished upto 6 months imprisonment with fine upto Rs 10,000/-

ii) If the quantum of Ganja is above 1000 grams and below 20 kgs, the offender shall be punished upto 10 years imprisonment with fine upto 1 lakh rupees.

iii) If the quantum of seized Ganja is 20 kgs, it is called Commercial Quantity and the offender shall be punished for a term of imprisonment not less than 10 years which may extend to 20 years with fine upto 2 lakh rupees.

Opium (Kani)

i) If the quantum of seized Opium is 25 grams , it is called Small Quantity and the offender shall be punished upto 6 months imprisonment with fine up to Rs 10,000/-

ii) If the quantum of seized Opium is above 25 grams and below 2 ½ kgs, it is called Intermediate Quantity and the offender shall be punished up to 10 years imprisonment with fine upto 1 lakh rupees.

iii) If the quantum of seized Opium (Kani) is 2 ½ kgs and above, the offender shall be punished with imprisonment of not less than 10 years which may extend to 20 years with fine up to 2 lakhs rupees.

A repeated convict shall be punished with death penalty.

To sum up, trafficking drugs such as Heroin (No4), Ganja, Opium, Cocaine, etc. in commercial quantity, as stated above, is a non-bailable offence. To save the lives of lakhs of people, it is time now to save the life of an individual from committing drug abuse and drug trafficking to bring a peaceful and healthy Manipuri society.

(Courtesy: Reminder published by AMADA)