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Weed deeds: Pioneer
New Delhi, Jun 02: Ismail is back in business. He`s just been released from prison, where he`d been put on charges of drug peddling. `It was my third jail stint,` he tells us. Ismail, who lives in the Garhi jhuggi cluster near Okhla, fends for his family of four kids and wife by selling ganja (marijuana).
New Delhi, Jun 02: Ismail is back in business. He's just been released from prison, where he'd been put on charges of drug peddling. "It was my third jail stint," he tells us. Ismail, who lives in the Garhi jhuggi cluster near Okhla, fends for his family of four kids and wife by selling ganja (marijuana).
"It's not a bad job," he says. A Bangladeshi immigrant, he gets his consignments from Nepal and Manipur. He sells three varieties of weed. The best comes from Manipur and sells for Rs 80 a tola (10 gm), the second is Nepalese and costs Rs 60 and finally, you get the leftovers for Rs 50. "I sell great stuff. You can sit with me and smoke a joint before deciding to buy," he tempts you. "I don't sell spiked stuff like the others," he adds.
When Ismail is in prison, his wife takes over the business. Ismail usually pays the cops a weekly bribe to survive. But during a special anti-drug drive or if the Commissioner comes down heavy, Ismail finds himself behind bars. "I'm used to the game," says Ismail, who claims to have a clientele that includes people from all ages and income groups.
A silver Wagon R stops a few yards away from his jhuggi and the window is rolled down. A youngster waves at Ismail. "Ja, baat kar," Ismail instructs his 10-year-old son. The naked boy runs to the window, gets the order and hops back. "Char pudiya," he tells his father. Ismail fishes out four tiny packets of ganja and gives it to his son, who in turn runs up to the driver and collects Rs 100. "An old customer of mine," Ismail sighs. "He is probably in a hurry, otherwise he would have sat with me and smoked a joint."
"It's not a bad job," he says. A Bangladeshi immigrant, he gets his consignments from Nepal and Manipur. He sells three varieties of weed. The best comes from Manipur and sells for Rs 80 a tola (10 gm), the second is Nepalese and costs Rs 60 and finally, you get the leftovers for Rs 50. "I sell great stuff. You can sit with me and smoke a joint before deciding to buy," he tempts you. "I don't sell spiked stuff like the others," he adds.
When Ismail is in prison, his wife takes over the business. Ismail usually pays the cops a weekly bribe to survive. But during a special anti-drug drive or if the Commissioner comes down heavy, Ismail finds himself behind bars. "I'm used to the game," says Ismail, who claims to have a clientele that includes people from all ages and income groups.
A silver Wagon R stops a few yards away from his jhuggi and the window is rolled down. A youngster waves at Ismail. "Ja, baat kar," Ismail instructs his 10-year-old son. The naked boy runs to the window, gets the order and hops back. "Char pudiya," he tells his father. Ismail fishes out four tiny packets of ganja and gives it to his son, who in turn runs up to the driver and collects Rs 100. "An old customer of mine," Ismail sighs. "He is probably in a hurry, otherwise he would have sat with me and smoked a joint."