New menace on campus: Cheap and 'effective' Meow Meow keeps cops on their toes

What’s getting students high in the national capital? You guessed it wrong. It’s not grass; it’s Meow Meow. The low-cost psychotropic drug that hit the illegal narcotics market about a year ago is fast replacing other high inducing substances on campuses. Worse, in some cases school children are being used as mules – carriers. Also known as ‘M-Cat’, ‘White Magic’ and ‘Drone’, Meow Meow - basically mephedrone, a synthetic stimulant drug of the amphetamine and cathinone classes - comes in the form of tablets or powder, which addicts can swallow, snort or inject. It produces effects similar to MDMA, amphetamines and cocaine. Compared to Rs 3,000 to Rs 6,000 for one gram of cocaine, depending on quality, this new drug costs only Rs 500-1,000. “I become very active after taking it. It de-stresses me from the pressure of exams. It improves mental function,” a user in Delhi University’s North Campus told Firstpost. Asked how long it takes to have effect, he replied, “It depends on the way it is taken. If you take it orally, you could feel it within 15–45 minutes. If snorted, the effects are felt within minutes and it peaks within half an hour. The effects last for between two and three hours when taken orally or nasally, but only half an hour if taken intravenously. If the user is new, the influence lasts for at least a week.” [caption id=“attachment_2376488” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Meow Meow[/caption] Since mephedrone also has medicinal value and is used as anaesthetic, it is available at different pharmacy shops. The popularity of internet pharmacy has made the procurement of the recreational drug easier and lessened the addicts’ dependence on peddlers, posing a challenge to the law enforcement agencies. Orders are placed online and the consignment is delivered at doorstep. To avoid scrutiny from law enforcers, suppliers often sell it in grams as plant fertilisers. Earlier it was not included in the list of banned drugs under the Narcotics, Drugs and Psychotropic Substance (NCB) Act, 1958 but a recent decision by the Central government has brought it in the ambit of the said rule. Despite crackdown by Delhi Police crackdown on people dealing in the drug, users claim there is no dearth of peddlers. What is worrying the police is that now school children are being used to sell the drug. They are paid pocket money for selling or delivering the consignments. The police accept that the drug is being sold in the city and it is popular in the age group of 16-26 years. “Incidents of the drug being sold to students have come to light. We are launching a massive crackdown on the peddlers. Recently, we have arrested three persons (two of them management students) and have seized 275 grams of M-Cat worth Rs 30 lakh,” Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ravindra Yadav said. The three were trying to sell the drug to DU students and were in search of clients going for parties. They were nabbed while striking a deal with a police decoy in a gym. Cops are now looking for one Dheeraj Nepali, who allegedly supplied mephedrone to the trio. Sources in the Crime Branch say Nepali can lead them to the main supplier.