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50 pc drug traffickers are women in Khulna

BSS, Khulna
About 50 per cent (PC) drug traffickers are women in Khulna.
Sixty four women were arrested last year in 62 cases under the Narcotics Control Act, according to official sources. Recently two women were sentenced to life-term in prison by Khulna district court for drug trafficking.
Previously a section of women was found to be engaged in smuggling sarees and household items from neighbouring countries, mainly India. Some of them sold smuggled goods from door-to-door in the city and its suburbs.
But in recent years women are mainly found to be engaged in drug trafficking. Khulna jail authority sources said that most of the under-trial women prisoners are charged with drug-connected cases.
Although women of different age
groups are engaged in this illegal trade, most of them are over 40.
Most women drug runners are either abandoned or divorced by their husbands. They live in shanties in the city. Poverty is one of the causes of their involvement in the trade, narcotics control officers said.
Quick money, non-requirement of capital and less risk are among the causes, which attract women in this trade. Women can carry a few bottles of Phensidyl, some small packs of heroin under their clothes without fuelling doubt in the minds of others.
Male law enforcers do not dare search or arrest a woman unless they make sure about possession of illegal drugs. Sexual harassment is very often leveled against male law enforcers. Female accused can obtain bail without much problem.
Female traffickers with babies in their arms can draw people's sympathy.
Small and makeshift 'Pan Biri' shops owned by females also draw people's attention.
Observing the very sight someone may ponder how hard a woman is struggling for her survival. But, in fact, the shops are nothing but drug selling centres and addicts and vendors know each other. Sometimes these women make door-to-door delivery whenever anti-drug drive is intensified.
Most of these women come to this illegal trade as carrier. Initially they are engaged by dealers to carry drugs from one place to another. But as soon as they overcome the fear of arrest and jail they start their own business.
In most cases they pay the price of drugs after selling the same. So, no capital other than courage is required to be a drug runner.
Social resistance and awareness with intensified and continuous antidrug raids may help improve the situation.