Meow meow, also known as mephedrone, is much cheaper and more addictive than cocaine. However, it is easily available online. What’s more, it is being delivered to customers’ doorsteps. The anti-narcotics cell is yet to take steps to curb its sale.
Several national websites are placing advertisements of the narcotics drug, mephedrone, which is banned in India. When The Asian Age, contacted dealers from an advertisement, they readily agreed to place the order. The dealers asked the reporter about the quantity and stated that the delivery would be made within 10 days.
However, the anti-narcotics cell has not taken any steps so far to stop the selling of such drugs in the city. “We are not aware of such activities. So far, we haven’t taken any steps or sent notices to any website. However, it also comes under the purview of the cyber crime department. But I don’t know if it has taken any steps,” said deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Jayant Naiknavare of the anti-narcotics cell.
However, a contrary statement was made by K.M.M. Prasanna, additional DCP. When contacted, Mr Prassana checked the websites that were brought to his attention by The Asian Age and said that it is taking steps against such websites, but refused to provide any other information. “We are aware of the situation and regularly taking steps but can’t divulge any other information,” he said.
Several websites advertise for drugs, and suppliers deliver it to the doorsteps of customers. There is a business-to-business website that has placed an advertisement describing the product as: “Mephedrone (often called ‘meow meow’) is a powerful stimulant and is part of the cathinone family, a group of drugs that are closely related to the amphetamines — including amphetamine itself (often called ‘speed’), methamphetamine and ecstasy.” This company is based in Mumbai and its website says it exports the product all over the world.
When The Asian Age asked the cyber crime department, it was told they could only provide technical assistance to the anti-narcotics cell. “In this subject, we can provide technical assistance to the cell. But so far, we haven’t received any notice from them,” said M. Rajkumar, DCP, cyber cell. Previously, before declaring it as a narcotic, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) was handling the supervision of the drug and several notices were sent to websites selling or advertising mephedrone. “When it was under jurisdiction, we had sent notices asking about removing such advertisements or products. But now as it is under the anti-narcotics cell, it doesn’t fall under our jurisdiction any more,” said O.S. Sadhwani, joint commissioner, FDA.
