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regular-article-logo Sunday, 05 May 2024

Amazon joins probe into alleged marijuana sale on its platform

SP Manoj Kumar Singh said on a tip-off, Kallu Pawaiya, 30, and Brijendra Tomar, 35, were arrested from Bhind Gwalior Road and 20kg of marijuana was found

PTI New Delhi Published 16.11.21, 02:32 AM
Representational image.

Representational image. Shutterstock

E-commerce major Amazon India on Monday said it is investigating an allegation that its platform was used to source marijuana.

On Saturday, an online marijuana sale racket was busted by Bhind police in Madhya Pradesh, leading to the arrest of two people and seizure of 20kg of the contraband, an official said.

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Bhind superintendent of police (SP) Manoj Kumar Singh said on a tip-off, Kallu Pawaiya, 30, and dhaba owner Brijendra Tomar, 35, were arrested from Bhind Gwalior Road on Saturday and 20kg of marijuana was found.

“Kallu used to source the marijuana from Vishakhapatnam through a reputed international e-commerce firm to Gwalior, Bhopal, Kota, Agra and other areas of the country. Brijendra helped him in the business,” he had said.

Kallu has so far sold one tonne of the contraband and transacted business worth Rs 1.1 crore, the SP had said.

“Kallu ran his company under a fake name with PAN and GST number etc. The e-commerce firm got 66.66 per cent of profit from the illicit business. We are collecting evidence to prosecute the e-commerce company under section 29 (part of criminal conspiracy) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance (NDPS) Act,” Singh had stated.

An Amazon spokesperson said: “The issue was notified to us, and we are currently investigating it. We assure full co-operation and support required to investigating authorities and law enforcement agencies with ongoing investigations to resolve the issue at the earliest.”

Traders’ body CAIT (Confederation of All India Traders) on Monday said the marijuana racket incident is a serious offence and the Narcotics Control Bureau should also take up the issue besides Madhya Pradesh police.

CAIT has also urged Union home minister Amit Shah and Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan to ensure that the issue should not go into the air.

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