Minors Used As Drug Couriers In Bhopal

In a disturbing trend, minors are being increasingly used as drug couriers in Bhopal to avoid police suspicion. Investigators have found that some families are pushing their children into the illegal trade, with both boys and girls being used to sell narcotics.

The Crime Branch and local police stations have cracked down on several cases, exposing the trend. In one case, a 17-year-old girl was apprehended with MD drugs, and during questioning, it was found that her entire family was involved in drug trafficking. Her mother would send her to deliver the contraband to clients.

In another case, a marijuana racket operating near Bhopal Railway Station was busted, and it was found that the network was run by a mother and her son. The son and two minor boys were arrested, and the son admitted that minors were deliberately used for marijuana peddling to avoid police attention.

As part of the state's anti-drug campaign, Chhola Mandir police caught a minor selling marijuana, and Gautam Nagar police apprehended another juvenile who said he was hired by a couple to sell marijuana on commission.

Police officials said that several drug-trafficking families are involving their children in the trade for financial gain, while organized gangs are targeting children from economically weaker backgrounds by luring them with easy money.

Additional DCP (Crime) Shailendra Singh Chauhan said that police are identifying more such rackets and taking action under the NDPS Act and the Juvenile Justice Act against those exploiting minors.

The trend of using minors in drug peddling has risen sharply over the past three years, with police data indicating that no minors were caught in drug-peddling cases between 2021 and 2023, but from 2024 to 2026, six minors and 44 women have been apprehended.

This year, the Crime Branch and local police have arrested five minors for drug peddling. The police records show that in 2024, two minors and 20 women were arrested, in 2025, one minor and 10 women were arrested, and in 2026, three minors and 14 women were arrested.

The use of minors in drug peddling is a serious issue that needs to be addressed, and the police are taking steps to curb the trend. The involvement of families in pushing their children into the trade is a disturbing factor, and it highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to tackle the issue.

The rise in the use of minors in drug peddling is a matter of concern, and it requires immediate attention from the authorities. The police are working to identify and take action against those involved in exploiting minors, and it is essential to support their efforts to curb the trend.