LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Communicated to the C.32.M.32.1942.XI. Council and the Members (0.C/A.R.1939/75) of the League (issued in English only)

Geneva, May 9th, 1942

TRAFFIC IN OPIUM AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS

ANNUAL REPORTS BY GOVERNMENTS FOR 1939

INDIA

Note by the Acting Secretary-General

In accordance with Article 21 of the Convention of 1931 for limiting the Manufacture and regulating the Distribution of Narcotic Drugs, the Acting Secretary-General has the honour to communicate the above-mentioned report to the parties to the Convention. The report is also communicated to other States and to the Advisory Committee on Traffic in Opium and other Dangerous Drugs.

(For the form of annual reports, see document 0.C.1600).

Dated New Delhi, the 12th December 1940

A. GENERAL

I. Laws and Publications.

1 & 2. The following changes in the law were made by the Government of India during the year ; -

(i) NOTIFICATION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, FINANCE DEPARTMENT (CENTRAL REVENUES), Nos. 1 AND 3, DATED THE 4TH FEBRUARY AND 25TH MARCH 1939, RESPECTIVELY.

In order to raise the limit of opium supplied to a chemist by the Opium Factory, Ghazipur in a financial year from 400 to 600 lbs., (181 kg. 800 gr.to 272 kg. 700 gr.), sub-rule (4) of rule 9 of the Central Opium Rules, 1934 was amended.

(ii) NOTIFICATION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, FINANCE DEPARTMENT (CENTRAL REVENUES), N° 2, DATED THE 25TH MARCH 1939.

In order to authorise Provincial Governments to appoint a magistrate to try cases involving contravention of Central Rules, the functions of the Central Government under section 31 of the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1930 were entrusted to Provincial Governments, with their consent. - 2 -

(iii) NOTIFICATION OF THF GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, FINANCE DEPARTMENT (CENTRAL REVENUES), N° 4, DATED THE 8TH APRIL 1939.

In order to authorise the Government of Bengal to regulate the cultivation, manufacture and sale for export of opium, the functions of the Central Government under clauses (b) and (c) of section 18 of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regulation, 1900 were entrusted to the Government of Bengal, with their consent.

(iv) NOTIFICATIONS OF THE GOVERNÎ^NT OF INDIA, FINANCE DEPARTMENT (CENTRAL REVENUES), Nos. 5 AND 8, DATED TFE 1ST JULY AND 26TH AUGUST 1939, RESPECTIVELY.

In the Table appended to rule 4 of the Dangerous Drugs (Import, Export and Transhipment) Rules, 1933, the entry in the third column relating to "(4) Hemp (excluding charas imported by land)" was amended empowering the Provincial Governments and Collectors of Customs to regulate the import of hemp 'in transit1,

(v) NOTIFICATION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, FINAJÏCE DEPARTMENT (CENTRAL REVENUES), N° 64-CUST0ÎS, DATED THE 9TH SEPTEMBER 1939.

The Import into or export from British India to any place outside India through the medium of the Post Office, of narcotic drugs other than (1) those which were dangerous drugs within the meaning of the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1930 and (2) medicinal preparations which were declared not to be manufactured drugs under clause (g) of section 2 of the Act was prohibited.

(vi) NOTIFICATION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, FINANCE DEPARTMENT (CENTRAL REVENUES), N° 9, DATED THE 14TE OCTOBER 1939.

In order to prohibit the export from British India by sea or land to any destination other than an Indian State, of diacetyl- mcrphine, its salts and preparations containing diacetyl- mcrphine or its salts, a draft of certain amendments to the Dangerous Urugs (Import, Export and Transhipment) Rules 1933 was published with a view to eliciting public opinion.

(vii) NOTIFICATION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, FINANCE DEPARTMENT (CENTRAL REVENUES), N° 10, DATED THE 28TH OCTOBER 1939.

In pursuance of the recommendations of the Health Committee of the League of Nations under Article 10 of the Geneva Convention 1925, control ovër import, export, etc. of "preparations made from the extract or tincture of, Indian hemp except those which are capable only of external use," was taken by amending the Government of India Notification in the Finance Department (Central Revenues), N° 2-Dangerous Drugs, dated the 10th January 1931. - 3 -

(viii) NOTIFICATION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, FINANCE DEPARTMENT (CEÏÎTRAL REVENUES), N° 11, DATED THE 11TH NOVEMBER 1939. of Rule 2 In pursuance of clause (a)/of the Central Opium Rules, 1934 the following tracts in the Uhitèd Provinces were fixed within which poppy was to be cultivated on account of Government during the year ending the 30th September 1940: -

Ghazipur, Gorakhpur, Azamgarh, Bareilly and Shahjahanpur.

(ix) The following important measures were taken bv Provincial Governments during the year : -

Madras.- The Madras Prohibition Act, 1937 was extended to the North Arcot district with effect from the 1st October 1939 and the measures referred tc under "Madras" in the report for the year 1938 were adopted in that district also.

Bombay.- As a step towards the extension of the policy of prohibition, the transport, possession and sale of charas were prohibited in Bombay and Ahmedabad with effect from the 1st August 1939. The limit of transport and possession without a permit was reduced to l/2 tola (5.85 grammes) of ganja, 2 tolas (23.4 grammes) of bhang, and l/4 tola (2.9 grammes) of opium i in certain areas in the Ahmednagar and Kanara districts. Addicts of opium and hemp drugs were however allowed to possess and consume the necessary drug, subject tp. certain maxima limits, on permits issued under certificates by registered medical practitioners.

Bengal.- For regulating the import into and export from Bengal to any other Province pr any of the neighbouring Indian States of Mayurhhanj, Hill Tippera and CoAch Behar, and the transport, possession, and sale cf manufactured drugs other than prepared opium, and the manufacture of medicinal opium or any preparation containing morphine, diacetylmorphine or cocaine from materials which tho maker is lawfully entitled to possess, the Bengal Dangerous Drugs Rules, 1939 were framed.

(2) For regulating the import into and export from Bengal by sea or land from and to places outside British India of manufactured drugs (other than prepared opium), orders were issued in pursuance of rules 4, 8, 10, 11 and 13 of the Dangerous Drugs (Import, Export and Transhipment) Rules, 1933.

United Provinces.- The following important changes were made during the year : -

(IJ Raising of issue price of opium from Rs. 90 to Rs.llO'^per seer (935 grammes) with effect from the 1st April 1939.

(2) Extension of complete prohibition in the districts of Farrukhabad, Bijnor, Budaun and Jaunpur.

(s ) Note by the Secretariat:

Approximate average rate for 1940 calculated frpm the Statistical Year- Book of the League cf Nations 1940/41:

1 rupeo - 1.33 Swiss franc - 0.3 Ü. S.A.dollar. - 4 -

(3) Reduction in the number of opium and hemp drugs shops by about 20 per cent.

(4 ) Raising of duty on charas by Rs.20 per seer.

(5) The system cf state management was extended to opium shops in Benares city and to all opium and hemp drugs shops in the selected areas in the following eleven districts, viz. , Garhwal, Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Bulandshahr, Cawnpore, Moradabad, Aligarh, Agra, Jhansi, Gorakhpur and Basti.

Central Provinces and Berar.- The following steps were taken in the Narsinghpur sub-division in the Hoshangabad district, where the incidence of opium consumption was high:-

(a) The limit cf possession of opium by any one person was reduced from one-half to one-quarter tola with effect from the 16th June 1939,

(b) Four opium shops were closed from the 1st January 1939 and three from the 16th May 1939.

(c) With a view to checking under-selling by opium contractors, the minimum selling price was fixed at Re.l per half tola with effect from the 25th April 1939 at all shops except two on the border cf the Bhopal State.

(d) Mine anti-ooium smoking committees were formed with the object of carrying on propaganda against opium smoking.

(e) One of the anti-opium smoking committees administered with satisfactory results a locally manufactured medicine to addicts to wean them from the habit of opium smoking.

Bih_ar.- (l) As a result of the further extension and introduction of the prohibition scheme in the Hajipur sub-division and in certain areas in the districts of Ranchi. Hazaribagh and Manbhum, the transport and possession of ganja and bhang were prohibited. The duty on opium, ganja and bhang was raised from Rs.90, 35 and 3 to Rs. 140, 50 and 4 per seer, respectively.

(2 ) Opiu^ consumers; tickets vvere introduced in the prohibited areas of the Province by which the sale and possession of opium were restricted and were allowed only to those persons who possessed opium consumers1 tickets issued by the Collector of the district to whjz/a they belonged.

( oThe 1 ir.il t of possession cf opium was reduced from 1 1/2 tolas (17.6 gramme?) to 1/2 tola (15.85 grammes) in the prohibits:'. 9 ; cas.

Orissa. - Under section 5 of the Opium Act, 18"8 » rv.2 == were issued to r 85 ..late the import, sxpr-rt, transport, possession and sal* of opium. lhc.se rules came into force from the 1st May 19?9. Under these rules only opium addicts registered and certified by qualified medical practitioner appointed for the purpose can use opium, subject to a maximum limit. All the opium shops in the district were abolished and registered addicts were supplied from centres and depots opened on behalf of the Provincial Government. - s -

Punjab.- (l) A transport pass fee nf Rs. 20 per seer in addition to the import, expprt and transport■duty of Rs. 40 per seer was levied on all charas consumed within the Province.

(2) The retail price of charas was raised1 from Rs .1-2-0 per tola (11.7 grammes) to Rs.1-8-0 per tola.

(3) Possession of any kind of opium other than excise opium produced at the Government Factory at Ghazipur was prohibited.

(4 ) Issue price of excise opium was raised frem Rs.70 to Rs.80 per seer.

Assam.- With a view to bring about total prohibition of opium consumption in the Sibsagar sub-division of the Sibsagar district and that portion of the Dibrugarh sub-division of the Lakhimpur district which lies south of the Brahmaputra river, the Assam Opium Rules , 1926 were amended,. The system of quarterly accelerated reduction of opium rations by which rations of all opium passes are reduced at the rate of 1/8 tola (1.46 gramme ) according to a prescribed scale was enforced in the areas of the Province other than those exclu^eû or partially excluded, with effect from the 1st June 1939 and was extended tc the partially excluded areas as an experi­ mental measure with effect fr«m the 1st September 1939.

Sind.- The rate of duty on' charas was raised by 50 per cent, on bhang by 25 per cent and the issue price of opium enhanced by 25 per cent, with effect from the 1st April 1939.

(2) The import, export, transport, sale and possession of charas pr any preparation or admixture thereof was prohibited in the Province with effect from the 1st October- 1939.

3. Publications.- Besides the usual annual Excise Administration Reports published by Provincial Governments, and the annual Report on the Operations of the Çpium Department published by the Government of India, a brief report

It was decided to discontinue the publication of the annual Excise Memoranda with effect from the year 1937-1938. The last Memoranda were published for the year 1936-1937.

II. Administration.

1.(a) Please see answer to Question I.

(b) No special administration referred to in Article 15 of the Limitation Convention, 1931, has been created in this country. The manufacture, export, distribution, etc., of the drugs to which the Convention relates are subject to strict control and supervision. In the provinces there are separate Excise Departments tn deal with the traffic in drugs and at the ports it is controlled by the Customs Department. There is thus already an efficient ad'ânistration for implementing within this country the provisions of the Limitation Convention and there is no necessity to create any special administration. - 6 -

(c) No important difficulty has been encountered in the application of any of the Conventions.

2. The only new development regarding addiction was the treatment of opium addicts in Dibrugarh and Sibsagar sub-divisions in Assam with lecithin and glucose. The treatment consists of the administration of lecithin by mouth and glucose by intravenous injections or by mouth or by both, thus relieving the strain imposed on the liver during the elimination of mor­ phine and opium alkaloids. The treatment was subsequently modified by discarding the practice of giving glucose by mouth. The addicts were treated in hospitals and dispensaries and also in centres opened for the purpose. The total number of addicts treated was 12,850. The addicts who were treated withstood the deprivation of their opium with the minimum of discomfort. They recovered from the withdrawal symptoms rapidly and with no untoward incident and were placed in a position, physically and mentally to withstand with a verv fair measure of success by their own efforts the desire for the resumption of their addiction, and with the certainty cf a permanent cure of the addiction in the broadest sense of the word if they were protected from temptation against illicit supplies, and given a new orientation in their outlook on life so that their reawakened interest may be provided with opportunity to develop, so that they would not relapse into their original instability which led them to this pernicious habit.

III. Control of International Trade.

1. The system of import certificates and export authorisations worked satisfactorily during the year.

3. Please see item (i) in answer to Question N° 1.

4. During the year 1939, 7 export authorisations were received back duly endorsed from the United Kingdom, 1 from Africa, 3 from Arabia, 3 from British West Indies, 1 from Switzerland, 2 from the Straits Settlements, 1 from Bahrein Islands and 19 from Burma.

5. No cases of forged or falsified import certificates or export authorisations were detected during the year.

6. No difficulties were experienced.

7. The only transactions with countries that have not yet adopted the certificate system were the exports of small quantities cf restricted drugs to certain States on the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan end Nepal and imports into and exports from Afghanistan of certain restricted drugs that passed in transit through India. The usual practice in allowing exports of drugs to such countries is to insist, as far as possible, on the production of import certificates issued by the Governments of those countries or Political Officers authorising the import of the drug co^si gnment.

IV. International Co-operation.

2. In compliance with Resolution 1 (ii) (b) adopted by the Upium Advisory Committee at its seventh session held in Augusc 1925, particulars regarding important seizures of drugs are also communicated, whenever necessary, by the Government of India to foreign Governments. - 7 -

Owing to restrictions on the cultivation and export of charas by the Chinese authorities, trade in contraband oharaa on a large scale has ceased and smugglers have. diverted their attention towards illicit traffic in opium which is smuggled from Afghanistan and the adjoining Trans-Indian Tribal territory-.

V & VI. Illicit Traffic.

1. Illicit import traffic.- Charas, cocaine and opium were the principal articles smuggled. Charas was smuggled into India from across the border by transborder Patbans. The smuggling of charas from Central Asia has largely ceased owing to the prohibition imposed by the Chinese Government, but a little smuggling continued out of the stocks of charas previously stored by smugglers in tribal territory. The gardah charas which was of inferior quality was smuggled in small quantities from Gardez in Afghanistan. The contraband is usually smuggled by means of carriers on their persons or in lorries, tongas or camels and donkeys.

Cocaine entered India mainly through the port of Calcutta. There was, however, no definite proof of the country of origin of the drug seized as the smugglers on receipt of their supplies, destroy the original packages n- and transfer the stuff into packets of their own making for smuggling up- ei country or for disposal locally. During the year under review, the quantity of cocaine imported into Calcutta was very small in consequence of disturbances in the Far East due to the Sino-Japanese war. No seizure of cocaine was reported by the Calcutta Customs during the, year under report. The officers of the Bengal Excise Department, however, seized small quantities of cocaine from the persons of carriers and hawkers.

Since the prohibition imposed by the Chinese Government on the export of charas, smugglers have turned their attention to illicit imports of Afghan opium into the North-West Frontier Province. Retail sale in opium was conducted on an extensive scale from the neighbouring poppy producing areas of Kaya Khabal, Amb, Sher Garh and Phulra States on the border of Hazara district. Such opium was freely sold by professional retail smugglers in the settled district. As in previous years, there was a considerable amount of illicit traffic in opium and ganja in Assam during the year 1939. The illicit opium was smuggled into the Province from the unadministered territories along the North-East Frontier and Nepal. Illicit ganja, either cultivated, semi-cultivated or wild was smuggled from Bhutan and Naga, the Khasi, Jaintia and the Dufla Hills. The Naga, Daflas and the Bhutias generally come down to the plains during the cold weather bringing ganja, together with other articles of merchandise.

Illicit export traffic.- There was practically no illicit outward traffic in cocaine, morphia or hemp drugs. Owing to the control taken over the accumulated stocks of opium in certain Indian States and restric­ tion of poppy cultivation both in British India and Indian States, India is no longer a source of supply for illicit raw opium in the Far East. The smuggling of opium from Bengal to Burma has been negligible in recent years as Burma now obtains its illicit supplies at much cheaper rates from Siam and the Shan States. Madras and Ceylon were also stated to have attracted the attention of smugglérs who were formerly interested in the traffic with Burma. Inter-provincial smuggling.- This traffic was chiefly confined to ganja charas, cocaine and onium. The smuggling of charas from the North-West Frontier Province and the P u n ja b received a set-back, partly as the result of difficulties in obtaining supplies from Chinese Turkistan, which is the main source of supply. The prohibition nf charas consumption in certain provinces and the disparity in the prices prevailing in the Punjab and other Provinces still make smuggling attractive. An increase in the duty cn charas in the United Provinces and its total prohibition in the. Central Provinces led to the smuggling of charas from the Indian States and the North-West Frontier Province to those provinces. The smuggled charas passed through Delhi. On account of the levy of a transport fee at the rate of Rs .20 per seer on charas with effect from the 1st April 1939, in addition to the duty nf Rs.40 per seer, some smuggling for local consumption arose in Delhi also.

All the cocaine found in the illicit market was of foreign origin. Calcutta continued tc be the distributing centre for the smuggling of cocaine but since the outbreak cf hostilities between China and Japan, sources of supply have been completely cut off and the smuggling of cocaine has nearly stopped. ï'ost of the drug sold was spurious cocaine. Opium was formerly smuggled to Calcutta in exchange for cocaine, but on account of the fall in the cocaine trade the smuggling of opium also received a set-back. Besides Calcutta, Bombay, Delhi, Amritsar, Peshawar,Ajmer, Cawnpcre, Benares, Allahabad, Patna and Dacca were the chief centres in British India and Jaipur, Tonk, Kotah, Ujjain, Indore and Rampur in the States. The Peshawar district, where certain leading smugglers of all-India notoriety reside, was a centre for the distribution of cocaine throughout India.

Opium was obtained by the illicit trade in India chiefly from the Rajputana Malwa tract on account of the cheaper rates and the facility with which the drug could be obtained there. Owing to the strict watch kept over licensed cultivators and vendors of opium in British India, cases of leakage cf excise opium were few and far between.

Methods employed and routes followed by smugglers.- Inter-provincial smuggling of drugs is generally carried on by railway and postal parcels, Smugglers seldom carry the drug themselves. They employ carriers, males as well as females, and are therefore rarely caught. The carriers generally travel by rail. Sometimes they get down, at some roadside or riverside station in the neighbourhood nf their destination and complets the journey on foot or by bus, boat or motor car. In this way they avoid detection by the Excise staff stationed at important railway stations. The agents of the smugglers carry the drugs either on their persons or in their baggages ; oil cloth and scents were mostly used to suppress the smell of the drugs. Sometimes they adopt the cunning device of carrying the contraband articles in innocent looking tiffin carriers, hand bags and fruit baskets with sundry eatables on the top end contraband at the bottom. Definite proof of the carriage of contraband in the lavatories of third class railway carriages was obtained this year. This method was mentioned in the last report.

2. There was no noticeable fluctuation in the extev.t cf illicit cultivation and consumption of th~se drugs. Cultivation of the coca plant was absolutely prohibited in India. The production cf ganja was prohibited except in small areas where it was cultivated under licence. The produc­ tion and sale of bhang was also regulated and restricted, so far as was practicable, having regard to the fact that it was possible to obtain it from the wild plant which grows in many parts of India. Similarly, - 9 - in British India the cultivation of poppy was allowed in certain selected areas in the United Provinces and the Punjab under licence and, as strict watch was kept by the Excise and Police authorities to see that no illicit cultivation nf the drug was resorted to, illicit cultivation was not possible except in a few remote hilly tracts of the country. The cultiva­ tion .of poppy fpr opium in the Punjab has been prohibited with effect from 1st April 1936. No estimate can be given of the drugs clandestinely harvested or consumed in the country.

3. For number of prosecutions and convictions for illicit manufacture, import or export, etc. , and penalties impcse^, please see statements I and II attached.

Occupations of the accused.- The accused were either professional smugglers, carriers or agents of the smugglers but, in order to put the Police, Customs and Excise authorities on the wrong scent, they ostensibly followed some other profession, e.g., motor car drivers, brokers, cobblers, coolies , fruit vendors, and members of the crews of river launches.

4. The following important cases of illicit traffic were detected during the year : -

(1) A quantity of 130 kg. 419 gr. of opium and 64 kg. 508 gr. of ganja n_ was seized by the Semt&ttiPolice (Dindigul Circle) on the 4th :ey ■November 1939 from a car which was involved in an accident. Seated in the car at the time of the accident was a Jaffnavite. The drug was intended fftr smuggling to Ceylon. The case is under trial.

(2) One Sammundar Khan was arrested in a serai at Colootola Street,Calcutta, on the 28th April 1939 for pcssessicxn of 10 kg. 285 gr. of charas. He imported the stuff from Peshawar cleverly concealed inside the wooden parts of tw

(3) On the 2 9th July 1939, one Atnar- Singh Bomrah with a number of aliases , one Shamsul Huda end one Syed Abdur Sattar were arrested at the Howrah Station in connection with the seizure of 10 kg. 285 gr. of charas recovered from the recesses provided inside the lavatory casing beards of an inter-third class compartment which formed part of the Delhi-Howrah express that arrived at Kowrah that morning. A searching examination was conducted in Bengal, the United Provinces, the Punjab, Madras and Central India with the result that fifteen smugglers of inter-provincial notoriety fr

(4) At a city booking office in Calcutta, a parcel bec-ked to Dibrugarh (Assam) was detained on suspicion on 4th August 1939 and when searched was found to contain 9 kg. 415 gr. of opium. On enquiry it was found that a smuggler from Assam had obtained the supply from one of the local smugglers in Calcutta. This opium was evidently being smuggled to Assam where prohibition was in force and where conse uently illicit opium was in demand. , As no case could be established against any person, no proceedings were taken. - 10 -

(5) Acting on information that some smugglers in Calcutta were smuggling opium to Assam not via Calcutta hut from the up-country direct tp Assam via Parpatipur, one Narayan Ram was arrested at the Parpatipur Railway Station on the 18th October 1939 with 12 kg. 623 gr. of opium, which he was carrying ingeniously concealed inside the false bottom of two big trays and secret chambers inside the four wooden legs of a cot. The accused had a railway ticket frcva Bitpur (Bhagalpur district) to Pandughat and stated that he was carrying the opium for a smuggler of Pibrugarh in Assam, The case is pending trial.

(6) Sk, Raung Ellahi, a homeopathic practitioner was found at the Howrah Railway Station platform on the 17th November 1939 and was arrested by the Excise staff when he was entering a third class compartment of the Up-Del hi Mail train. On search, he was found to possess 190 grammos of cocaine hydrochlor.

(7) On the 15th December 1939, a bogus purchaser was sent by the Calcutta Excise staff to the room of a Chinese, named Kong Hoy, to purchase a quarter tin of cocaine for Rs. 400. On the sale being completed, Kcng Hoy and two other Chinamen Ahsein and Ahsoo, who were found with Kcng Hoy in the room, were arrested. All the three accused were charged for illegal sale and possession of 291 grammes of cocaine under section 14 of the Dangerous Drugs Act,,1930, and were sentenced to nine months' rigorous imprisonment and to furnish a bond of Rs. 300 for 1 year,

(8) A resident of the Punjab while on his way to Gomoh (Bihar) was arrested at Aligarh Railway Station with about 17 kg. 763 gr. of charas. The drug seized was probably obtained from an Indian State in the Punjab.

(9) At Sayah out-post, Police Station Chakrata, district Dehra Dun, 189 kg. 551 gr. of raw opium, laden on seven mules was seized. The drug was brought from Jubbal State and the route followed by the smugglers was via Sayyah where the Chakrata hill road meets the metalled road tc Saharanpur and Delhi.

(lO) On information being conveyed by the Excise Inspector, Muttra, a resident of Rampur, who had evaded arrest at Muttra was caught with 38 kg. 331 gr, of opium at Secunderabad (Hyderabad State). The drug seized was ingeniously concealed in the false bottom of two steel trunks which were booked from Amritsar to Secunderabad,

5. For statistics of quantities of opium and other dangerous drugs seized during the year 1939, please see statements I, II and III attached.

6. The wholesale and retail sale prices of illicit opium, hemp drugs and cocaine during the year were as under : - Wholesale price Retail sale price Rs. Rs.

O p i u m ...... 15 to 120 per seer ( 935 grammes ) 40 to 800 per seer

C h a r a s ...... 30 to 150 " " 40 to 240 "

G a n j a ...... 8to 50 11 " 10 to 100

B h a n g ...... 1-8-0 to 8 " " Not known C o c a i n e ...... 64 to 250 per oz. (28 .4 gramir.es) 125 to 450 per oz. - 11 -

The prices of Contraband drugs fluctuated according tp demand and supply and were naturally connected with the prices prevailing for drugs obtainable through licensees. As the rate of duty on opium and charas varied in different provinces, prices also varied between different provinces. Novocain© or other similar ingredients were mixed with cocaine in retail sale, hence the retail price of cocaine became much higher than the wholesale price. Its price had gone still higher owing to the shortage of supply since the Sino-Jaoanese war. Hemp drugs were not adulterated. There was no important fluctuation in the illicit traffic during the year under report. The illicit traffic in these drugs seemed to owe its exis­ tence not so much to the restriction upon sale and possession as to the high rates of taxation and retail price for licit supply. It was only in areas in and around Calcutta and in industrial areas, where the limit of retail sale of opium without permit had been reduced to 12 grains ( 0.78 grammes) that owing to this special restriction, upon .sales, there was a certain amount of smuggling of the drug from the neighbouring British tracts where the limit of sale was 1 tola (11.7 grammes )' or from the French settlement at Chandernagore. For illicit cocaine the price demanded was higher than the price of the licit drug. This was undoubtedly due to restriction imposed upon sale and possession of the drug. The disparity 3» in prices of charas prevailing in the United Provinces and the Punjab and d n- Delhi still made smuggling attractive to smugglers in the United Provinces. itec The smuggling of Nepali ganja into the districts of the United Provinces ir bordering on Nepal continued, as the prices in Nepal were much lower. As there was no special demand of contraband charas and Opium in the Punjab, the sale prices of these drugs varied considerably. The variation in prices was also due to the percentage of adulteration. Due to the introduction of the policy of total prohibition in two sub-divisions and the introduction of the policy of quarterly reduction of opium rations in certain areas in Assam by which rations admissible on all opium passes were reduced quarterly at the rate of l/8th of a tola (1.46 grammes) according to a prescribed scale and virtual stonpage of the issue of new opium passes almost throughout the province, the demand for illicit opium became very acute. Many consumers whose rations had been reduced or whose pas'ses had been "cancelled were reported to have been supplementing their rations with smuggled opium. Smuggling from places outside Assam therefore definitely increased as the result of these restrictions. The import of contraband opium into the North- West Frontier Province showed an increase on account of prohibition of cultivation of hemp plants and of bumper crops cf pGppy in Afghanistan. In the Central Provinces, Sind, Ajmer-Merwara, Coorg and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, illicit traffic being on a small scale, the matter was nOt of much importance. In Madras, Bihar, Baluchistan, üelhi and Panth Piploda, no information was available about wholesale and retail sale prices of drugs.

Contraband opium was generally found in an adulterated state. Charas was also usually adulterated with foreign matter to the extent of about 20 to 25 per cent. Tobacco and catechu were frequently added to charas and opium respectively, to increase the weight. Adulteration of cocaine in the illicit traffic was common. The chief adulterants for cocaine were novocaine, santronine and boric acid to the extent of 70 per cent.

e .

a- - 12 -

STATEMENT I.

Statement showing (1) the total number of pr nsecutions and convictinns (with (2) an indication as to the nature of.offence leading to conviction) for offences (other than smuggling from or to places outside India which are shown in Statement II below) relating to dangerous drugs separately, quantities pf each drug seized and penalities imposed"during the year 1939.

Total number of prosecutions Total number of convictions

Province Opium ■Morphine Hemp Cocaine Opium Morphine; Hemp Cocaine drug drugs

1 Madras ...... 97 711 78 652

| Bombay ...... 700 1,054 3' 659 983 2 ! Sind ...... 54 1 310 1 42 192

I Bengal ...... 246 1 911 13 197 761 5

| Bihar ...... 47 2 731 . 2 32 662 j Orissa ...... 87 44 79 33

! United Provinces . 380, 752 11 298 708 5

Punjab ...... X328 72 1 224 60 1 j Central Provinces and 3‘"‘rar .... 18 6 298 118 213

! Assam ...... 807 268 594 239

! North-West Frontier I Province .... 184 64 140 33

9 27 8 7 20 2

; Ajmer-Merwara in­ cluding Railway lands in Rajputana 1 and Central India 19 3 9 13 3 3

| Coorg ...... • • ■ ; Baluchistan ...... 1 ... Pa nth Piplt/da . . • • •

: Andaman and Nicobar Islands ...... 17 10 16 10 ...

' Relating to opium and poppy heads. - 13 -

(2)

Quantity of drugs seized Nature of offence Province leading to Qpiuas Mor­ Hemp drug [ Cocaine | Penalties conviction phine Ganja Charas j Bhang inposed Or. H-\ Gr. Kf. ! Or. Kg,,:Or. 1 Kg. : Gr. ! Kg.! Gr.! li&dras...... Illicit transport, 1 Fine and 24 72? 59 245 | possesion, and imprison­ ' 24 madak ■j (559 heap pills) cultivation ment I plants and ; j 212 packets) j i Bombay ..... Illicit cultivation, Do. 35 94 • •• 26 968 12 45 i 2 j 466 j ... { 372 possession, sale or inter-provincial import or export Sind...... Possession, import, Fine and 3 332 455 23 10 |998 281 j 239 j •.. ; 2\ cultivation and imprison­ sale ment {2,565 plants) plants ) Bengal...... Illicit possession, Fine and l6l 170 ... 1 256 ; 800 101 702 303 J 278 ... 340; sale,cultivation, R.I. and 9 plants and 8 import and transport plants | ti­ Bihar...... Illicit possession, Do. 4 573 ... 6 32 31 ... 1,319 ; 75 ... lj cultivation and sale ed

Orissa ..... Ditto Fine and 3 300 * * * ... 9 342 ... j 909 ...... { imprison­ t ment kited Provinces Illicit possession, Do. 258 382 ... 178 822 166 216 sale, import and and 1 45 .am u 2 packets cultivation (150 plants) plant s packets and 1; plant packets; pi Jab...... Ditto Do. 262 340 » • » • . . 6 227 100 : 606 ... it 'entrai Province; Illegal import,sale, Do. 9 494 2 704 6 641 19 1 402 ar.d Berar . . . cultivation ana' 1 possession lEsam...... Illicit growing, Do. 138 400 s . • 129 905 ■ •. * ... possession, sale and importation Ncrth-West Unlawful possession Do. 147 6 75 57 j • • • Frontier . . . and import * * * Province . . . i ; Delhi...... Illegal possession Fine and' 3 150 •...... 7 580 30] and sale imprison­ ••• \ ••• ment

Ujner-Merwara Illicit possession Fine and . 55 159 449 I Inr.ludlng and sale rigorous | 5 8 i s 5ai-l>fay lands imprison­ ! *5 ,*&jputana ment ! I ^ and.Central I i

r CcrS ...... •.. 1 *** pluchistan . . Illicit possession Fine ;;; !” 164 | 75 r&nth Piploda ...... , ... .,.. ... : ... Iranian and I ■«Uobar Islands Illicit possession Fine and ! 1 842 ...... 785 ... | ... imprison­ ment 1 | : \ * - 14 -

STATEMENT I I.

Statement showing total number of seizures, prosecutions, convictions, etc., in respect of smuggling of opium and other dangerous drugs separately from or into British India (from or to places outside India, that is, British India and Indian States) during the calendar year 1939*

Total No. of Name of place (ori­ Total number:Total number of Penalties:Quantities o; ; seizures gin or destination) of persons persons convicted imposed ; drugs seized Particu­ ; (cases) prosecuted ! Province lars of Im­ Ex­ Im­ Ex- jim- i Ex­ drugs port port Inp ort Export port jport Import :Export pert port Kg. Or.; Kg.Gr,

{ Opium 1 15 French Ceylon. | 10 ... :4 Hindus, Fine & ri-:.. 28' 24: 251 Karikal & :2 Muham- ( Pondi­ Straits medans gorous ira-! Settle­ I Indian cherry ments prisonment : Madras \. Hemp drug 1 10 Karikal Straits 1 9 ... 6 Hindus, Do. 64 24; 1; Settle­ ( (Ganja) ments, 1 Muham- Ceylon, Karikal & medan U.S.A.

1 ( Opium 3 5 Iran* Africa 2 5 2 British 4 Lritish Do. i Z 6?2 4 1$ iBombay ( Hemp drug ! 13 London-*" & Basra ... 8 ... {] British Do. !.. 2 23! ( [Charas ) iSind Opium 5 ... Iran 5 - » 5 5j ... Fine & im-j 3 63 prisonment:

( :0pium l ... Tibet ... l l : Fine & ri-: 1 776 i ••• gorous im­ ; Bengal ( prisonment; { Hemp drug 5 Burma & 5 ! • • • 5 j ... Do. 796 ..] ... ( (Ganja) Nepal

( Opium 5 ... Nepal ... 5 ••• 4 (Nationà- ... Imprison- : 6 772 ..j ... lity not ment & Bihar ( known) fine ( Hemp drug 447 ... Do. ... 446 435 Do. | Do. Ill 53 . .j ... (Ganja) ! •••

Orissa ...... 1 • " I ••• r * * ... •"

United Opium ! l ... Afghanis­ ... 1 ; ... j ... Case 4 902 tan pending Provinces i

(:Opium Tribal 26 22 ! Fine & im-148 507 ! 26 territory (; or Afgha­ (Pathans): prisonment: ni stan Punjab ( Hemp drug 2 Do 2 Do. 2 756 i . (: (Charas; (Pathan)

Central I 1 ... Provinces & ... 1 ...... •T'"l Berar ! 1 j

Assam ...... i ......

... N.W.F,Province ...... : • • • ...... i

...... : . . . : ---- ...... • » j • * 1 Delhi ...... i I | , Ajmer-Merwara ...... i ......

... 10 50 Coorg ...... 1 ••• ... 11 •" : 50 Baluchistan Opium j 5 Afghanis­ 6 (con- Fine & ri-| 10 victed) & : tan 1 case gorous ira-[ pending i XPatnans prisonment: or Afghans) . . ; • • * ...... Panth Piploda ...... i • • • An^pwsvn & Nico- ... ••• ... our Islands IT!!'

NCTE.- Much more than the quantity shuw.i in the statement is believed to h a v e been actually smuggled into M i a from foreign countries but the seizures shown therein include only such cases as are proved D^yon to be cases of smuggling between foreign countries and British mdia. * Relates only to 68% of the drug seized; origin of the remaining quantity not known. *?* Relates only to 45% of the drug seized; destination of the remaining quantity not known. - 15 -

STATEMENT III

Statement showing prosecutions, convictions .and penalties imposed for offences relating to opium smoking and quantities of prepared opium confiscated during the year 1939-

Total Tqtal : Quantity of number numbe r 1 prepared ppium Pr ovi nc e Nature of offence : Penalties imposed of of : seized prosecutions convictions j Kg. Gr.

Madras 1 .1 Illicit possession : Fine 1 - - 1 ...

Bombay 202 182 Illicit possession & : Fine & imprisonment 1 428 (persons) (persons) sale

Sind 15 11 Illegal do. do. i • • • 300

Bengal 505 393 Illicit possession,manu- iFine S imprisonment 1 956 facture and sale of prepared opium, illicit: possession of smoking .. . apparatus,smoking in a : gang'and for opening a : ■ ■ den Bihar

Orissa 88 58 Illicit manufacture and Fine & imprisonment 152 possession of prepared opium, opium smoking &l possession of smoking : apparatus

United Provinces 257 170 iManufacture,„sale, do. 348 possession,keeping of smoking dens and being members of opium smoking assembly

Punjab 44 44 ; Illegal possession of pre do. 213 (persons) (persons) pared opium

Central Prcvinces 786 669 i Opium smoking,possession Fine & imprisonment 556 and Berar ; L-of -implements required for preparation & smok­ ing of prepared opium & keeping smoking dens

Jtssan 6 6 Opium smoking Fine 73 N.W. P. Province 55 45 Illicit possession & sale Fine & imprisonment 443 Delhi Illegal possession of less than a prepared opium kilogramme kJffler-Merwara sub Judice Coorg : ^luchistan Ptoth Piploda ‘‘■«daman & Ni cobar

' E l a n d s - 16 -

B. RAW MATERIALS

VII. Raw Opium

1, With the stoppage of cultivation of the poppy plant in the Punjab for the manufacture of opium with effect from the 1st April 1936, culti­ vation, so far as British India is concerned, is now confined to a limited area in the United Provinces. The area under cultivation in 1939 was 1,947 hectares. This is based on actual measurement. The area sown in 1938 was 2,657 hectares. The cultivator is bound to sell the whole nf his opium produce to the Government Opium Factory at C-hazipur.

Although cultivation of the poppy plant for the manufacture of opium is prohibited in the Punjab, cultivation of the plant for the purpose nf production of poppy heads is permitted, under licence, in a small area in that province. The actual area under cultivation during the year 1939 was 1,075 hectares.

2.(a) The quantity of raw opium produced during the year amounted to 87,561 lbs. or 39,796 kg. at 90° consistence. Its average morphine strength cannot be stated as an absolute figure. Approximately, it may be taken as 11 per cent at 100° consistence. This percentage applies to the opium at the time of its receipt into the Ghazipur Factory but, as time passes, the morphine strength decreases. At the time of exporting from the Factory it may be taken as 10 per cent at 100° consistence by B.P. standard. The total morphine content of the opium produced is thus estimated at 3,575 kg.

Besides the quantity of opium produced in the. United Provinces, the Government of India purchased from the Punjab Government 6,067 kg. cf Punjab Hill Opium which was in stock with the latter when the cultivation of poppy in the Punjab for the manufacture of opium was prohibited. Its morphine strength was 6'. 9 per cent and it was fit only for the manufacture of alkaloids.

Since the beginning of 1936, exports of opium from India have ceased except for exceedingly small quantities sent to the French and Portuguese Settlements in India, Nepal, Zanzibar and Pemba. The exports to these places are allowed in accordance with long standing practice and are subject to arrangements which confine the amount of such exports to the quantities approved by the Governments of these territories. Besides these places opium is exported to Burma and Aden. Before separation, they formed an integral part of India and it has been decided to continue to allow them to draw their supplies of opium from India at cost price so long as they require it. The quantities exported to Burma and Aden during the year were 22,443 kg. and 42 kg. respectively.

(b) The statistics of production are based on the actual quantity of opium received in the Ghazipur Factory. Each parcel received is weighed and a sample from it is assayed. The actual weight and assav of each parcel are recorded and the equivalent in terms of opium of 70° consistence, which is the standard consistence, is calculated. The opium received in the Factory is of different degrees of consistence, varying from about 50° to 95°, but it is accounted for in terms of opium of 70° consistence. - 17 -

3. The quantities of opium transformed into standardised raw opium, the quantities of standardised raw opium made and the consistence of the standardised raw opium during the year 1939 were as follows : -

Name of the Name of the Consistence of Total quantity Quantity of raw ;Factory standardised the standardised of the standar­ opium (of various raw opium raw opium dised raw opium consistencies) used; manufactured manufactured manufactured in the manufacture of the standardised; raw opium (in kilogrammes) (in kilogrammes)

Opium Factory at Ghazipur Excise opium 90° 210,999 252,563

Opium 18 ,762* 29,917 Factory at Ball opium 90°/91° (For issue to Neemuch Indian States only) i

^Figures relate to 1939-40.

There have been no changes'in the method, of manufacturing the standardised raw opium (Excise opium), nor in its characteristics.

The consumption of excise opium (for medical, qmsi-medical and non­ medical purposes) during the year was as follows : -

j______Consumption of' Excise opium by. Provinces in 1939 j

j (in kilogrammes);

Madras ...... 19,107 Bombay „ ...... 10,699 S i n d ...... 4,316 B en ga l...... ' ...... 24,233 United Provinces ...... 11,001 Punjab ...... 27,303 B i h a r ...... 5,417 Orissa ...... 14,436 Central Provinces and Berar ...... 7,545 A s s a m ...... 4,169 North-West Frontier Province ...... 450 Baluchistan...... 460 Ajmer-Merwara...... 2,045 D e l h i ...... 1,601 Coorg ...... 8 Panth P i p l o d a ...... 7

Total .... 132,799

Andaman and Nicobar I s l a n d s ...... 322

Per capita consumption of opium in British India during the year w a s ...... 0.5 gramme. - 18 -

(4) No important change of an economic or social character took place during the year in the districts where opium poppy was grown. The decrease in the quantity of raw opium produced is due to reduction in the area under poppy cultivation. Sugarcane and tobacco crops have taken the place of ppppy cultivation where the latter has been discontinued.

(5 )(a) The cultivation of the opium poppy, as already stated, is subject to licensing. The number of cultivators to whom licences were granted in 1939 was 19,421.

(b) Wholesale - supply of opium is a Government monopoly.

(6) The amount of revenue realised by various Provincial Governments from opium in the form of excise duty and licence fee during the year 1939 was as fellows : -

(in rupees)

Madras ...... 20,09,390 Bombay ...... 13,29,018 S i n d ...... 3 ,49 ,531 B e n g a l ...... 34 ,91,344 United Provinces ...... 16,68,724 Punjab ...... 30,45,022 B i h a r ...... 6,90,439 Orissa ...... 16,36,018 Central Provinces and Berar . . . 11,19,550 A s s a m ...... 5,17,071 North-West Frontier Province . . . 81,606 Ajmer-Merwara ...... 63 ,957 D e l h i ...... 2,00,190 Coorg . • ...... 1,063 . Baluchistan ...... 39 ,595 Panth-Piploda ...... 80

Total .. . . 1,62 ,42 ,598

Andaman and Nicc-bar Islands . . . ■ 41,176

The total revenue from all sources of both the Central Government anu Provincial Governments during 1938-39 was about Rs .2,06,13,52,986. The tGtal revenue from upiurn was thus 0.78 per cent of the total revenue of the country.

No important change took place during the year in the rate of taxation On opium.

(7 )(a) There have been ne changes in the use of the poppy plant or of its products.

(b) The straw of the opium poppy is not used as raw material for the manufacture of opium alkaloids in the Factory.

"Figures for 1939-40 are not yet available. - 19 -

VIII. Coca Leaf.

The cultivation of the coca plant has been prohibited in India. There is no wholesale trade in coca leaf in the country.

IX. Indian Hemp.

1. The Indian hemp plant of the "bhang" variety grows wild in M ad ras, Bihar, North-West Frontier Province, United Provinces, Assam, Bengal, and the Punjab, It is, however , difficult to state the extent of this wil5 growth. Excepting Assam where harvesting of the plant is not permitted and certain districts of the Punjab where there is no restriction on the cultivation of the plant, the collection and storage of the leaves of the wild plant which form the product known as "bhang" are allowed under & licence. Bhang is eaten as well as drunk as a liquid infusion. The simplest method of consuming bhang is tc pound it with certain spices and then swallow the paste in the form of a bolus. It is also consumed in the form of sweetmeats. Ganja is eaten as well as drunk.

2.(a) The cultivation of the hemp plant is permitted in Almora, GarhwaJ and Naini Tal (excluding the Tarai and Bhabar) in the United Provinces for its fibre, but not for the pr-o-duotion of hemp drugs. The area under cul­ tivation was 73 hectares.

(b) Ganja is produced in the provinces of Madras, Bengal, Bihar, Central Provinces and the Ahmednagar district in Bombay. The total area under cultivation was 200 hectares, and the combined area under ganja and bhang (for which separate figures are not available) was 124 hectares. As the plant from which bhang is obtained grows wild in most parts ofIndia, no reliable figures as to area under cultivation can be given. Bhang is also cultivated in Deh Bubak of Dadu district and in Sakrand in the Nawabshah district in Sind. The area under cultivation was 12 hectares.

3. (a) The amount of Indian hemp harvested was as follows : -

(In kilogrammes)

Ganja 176,116 Bhang 177,926 (As the plant grows wild, exact figure as to the quantity actually har­ vested cannot be given)

The decrease in the production cf ganja in 1939 was due to damage ty crop in two Provinces.

(b) The stocks of Indian hemp at the end of the year in the hands of wholesalers and the Government were as given below: -

(in kilogrammes)

Ganja 164,884 Bhang 63,567 - 20 -

4. The cultivation of the hemp plant is prohibited except under a liceni Illicit cultivation of the hemp plant is a rare offence. On detection, the plants are confiscated and destroyed and" the accused on conviction are eithei fined or imprisoned.. As no statistics nf areas are kept where cannabis indij is illicitly cultivated, it is not possible to state the- area. The detection of illicit cultivation is difficult, as in some cases the. hemp plants are gri mixed with other crop;: such as rice. ' ■ .

5.(a) Charas is not produced in India. It is imported overland from Central Asia (Yarkand).

(b) The stock of resin (charas) at the close of the year 1939 was 3,796 kg.

6. The narcotic products of the hemp plant used in India are ganja, charas and bhang. Chars s , if medicinal uses be excepted, ..is almost always smoked. It is also sometimes used for making sweetmeats such as piste ki barfi, kulphi, or misari. The statement below shows the quantities of each drug consumed in the various provinces .during the year : - I

province Ganja Charas Bhang j Majun kg. kg. kg.,. kg. rt ^ rr /-* n Madras ...... co , /bo ? 1,358 ! B o m b a y ...... 16,915 i 2,519 5,013 j:,. S i n d ...... 914. ? 4 ,610 5,9,065 j ■ Beng a l ...... 31,274S 928 8,473 : Bihar ...... 19,327 ! 8,365 j Orissa ...... 7,940! 3,860 i United Provinces -...... 7,511 i 13,510 80,073 ! P u n j a b ...... •...... 7.817 73,795 j Central Provinces and Berar . . . 11,130 j 3 ,857 : ■ A s s a m ...... 11,036 j 11 ! | North-West-Frontier Province . . . j 1,547 1,995 j : Delhi ...... | 1,601 4,007 ; 61 1 576 2,456 ; 382 1 Baluchistan ...... U 774 649 ; C o o r g ...... 154 ! . . Panth Piploda ...... 28 : 9 i

Total , . . 133,056 ; 33 ,884 253 ,986 | 382

Per capita consumption of hemp drugs (excluding majun) during the year was 1.63 grammes as against 1.84 grammes during 1938. j

7. The use of hemp drugs for their narcotic effect is based upon ling, tradition that has been traced back as far as the Vedas. The consumption of the drugs is controlled on lines very similar to those applied to opium. As already stated, ganja and bhang are produced locally. There is no Government factory, but the cultivation of the plant and the collection of the wild product are governed by the issue of licences. . The drugs.are stored after^ collection in Government depots- and issued to.licensed vendors under condivM closely analogous to those applying to the vend of opium. Imports of cha£H are controlled strictly. The import of other hemp drugs and of galenical preparations of hemp is also subject to restrictions. The export of all heff-P drugs is allowed only on the production of an import certificate from the importing country stating that the consignment is required for legitimate purposes and that the resin or its preparations will not be re-exported.

Please see also answer to Question 1. - 21 -

8. The manufacture of medicinal hemp is prohibited save under and in accordance with the conditions of a licence in the form prescribed in the Government of India, Finance Department (Central Revenues) Notification ■ N° 2, dated the 17th February 1934.

C. MANUFACTURED DRUGS

X. Internal Control of Manufactured Drugs.

1.(a) No manufactured drug was manufactured during the year in excess of the estimates.

(b) Heroin is not manufactured in India. Since the close of the year 1934, the Government of India have decided that in cases where the buyer of the drug is a private trader in British India or where an Indian State is concerned, and the drug is being bought either by the State for Government purposes or by a private trader, a condition will be inserted in the import certificate issued for the import of the drug to the effect that the drug should be consigned to cmd distributed- by and on the responsibility of a Government official of the province into which the drug is to be imported and the "request", together with the import certificate, will be forwarded to the Departments of the Government of countries (from where the drug is to be imported) responsible for the issue of export certificates. The names of the Government officials of the various provinces are given below:-

Province of import Government Department or official to whom heroin should be consigned and on whose responsibility it should be distributed

Madras ...... Commissioner of Excise. Bombay ...... Ditto. S i n d ...... Revenue Commissioner. Bengal ...... , Forest and Excise Department (Excise Branch), distribution to be made by Excise Commissioner. Bihar ...... Commissioner of Excise and Salt. Orissa ...... Revenue (Excise) Commissioner. United Provinces ...... Punjab ...... Inspector General of Civil Hospitals Central Provinces and Berar . Deputy Commissioner of the district concerned. Assam ...... North-West Frontier Province . . Deputy Commissioner of the district concerned. Delhi ...... , Excise Officer. Ajmer-Merwara ...... , . Commissioner. C o o r g ...... Civil Surgeon. Baluchistan ...... Superintendent of Excise.

Export of the drug from British India to any destinati or other than an Indian State or Nepal is prohibited.

(c ) Due regard is paid to the provisions of Articles 13 and 14 of the Limitation Convention of 1931 and the rules and regulations in force are in conformity with the requirements of these Articles. - 22 -

2, 3 H . So far as British India is concerned,- the manufacture, cf opium alkaloids, morphine-and its salts, etc., is only permitted at the- Government Spium Factory, Ghazipur,.' Medicinal opium and preparations containing drugs can also be manufactured by persons or firms licensed for the purpose from materials which they are lawfully entitled to possess. With the transfer of the Control Laboratory of the Central Beard of Revenue from Lahore to Delhi, the manufacture (which is^undertaken mainly "co meet the requirements of the Medicai Store Depots) cf cccsihe hydrochloride cf B.P.- standard from adulterated contraband stuff which was previously;done at the Custom House Laboratory at Calcutta has been transferred to the Control Laboratory. The output and con­ sumption cf the drugs manufactured at the Ghazipur Factory during 1939 are given in the statement below:-

Statement showing the Vnr.um Alkaloids manufactured at, and issued from, the Ghazipur )pium Factory in the year 1939, from 1st January to ,31st December, 1939.

K % X x Her Dhia Cotamine Morphia : Narco- Morphia Morphia: Hydro­ Hydro­ ,Sul- Codeine;tine crude" Tartras chloride chloride ■ phate ; crude

lbs . QZ . lbs;02. lbs.oz. lbs. oz:. (lbs. oz lbs.oz. lbs. oz. Receipts Balance on 31st Decem­ ber 1938 ...... 5 0 0 4 0 9 51 . 6 -j 5 1 400 0 . . Manufactured from 1st January 1939 tc 31st December 1939 . . . 158 3 19 12 130 5 : 475 0+ 5 0 j

Total '163 3 0 4 20 5 181 11 I , 5 1 ■875 0 5 o : Expenditure J . High Commissioner for India, London . . . . ; . ’ 125' 0 1. . . 800 0 Licensed druggists, medical practitioners and dispensaries and chemical works . . . 39 10 0 1 16 ■ 5' ' 50 8 . . Medical Store Keepers

to Government . . . 42 C • \ 0 6 'l \ . , 5 o ; Educational Institu­ tions and Labora­ tories ...... 2 8 ...... Medical Store Depot, Rangoon...... 0 3 0 2

r 0, 1 ' Total 138 5 . 0 1 20 ■ 5 ;i el 11 1 . .. 800 0 5_ i ■ • ■ ' Balance on 31st Decem­ ber 1939 £4 14__ 0 5 ___ .___ _ 5 .. 1 75 0

*1 Manufacture from approximately 3 ,643 lbs. at 100° of crude alkaloid cake 1 includes 146 l b s . pure morphine at 80 per cent salt.

+ Includes 365 l b s . pure morphine at 75 per cent s a l t .

Strict supervision is exercisei over the Ghazipur Factory and a reg u lar account is kept and checked of each drug manufactured at the Factory. - 23 -

Permits or authorisations for the use and possession of the manufactured drugs were granted to the following classes of persons : -

(1) Officer-in-charge of hospitals. (2) Registered medical practitioners and dentists. (3 ) Licensed chemists and druggists. (4 ) Educational or research institutions.

Private individuals could" possess the drug to the extent of such quantity as had been purchased on the prescription of a medical or veterinary practi­ tioner . Strict supervision is exercised by the Excise Department over the firms and premises authorised to possess or deal in dangerous drugs and the inspecting excise officers are required to examine the stocks of the drugs as well as the prescribed accounts as often as possible. In addition to these officers, Civil Surgeons and certain other officers authorised in this behalf are also required to inspect the premises of qualified dentists and medical practitioners.

D. OTHER QUESTIONS

XI. Chapter IV of the Hague Opium Convention of 1912.

There has been no exportation of opium to China since 1913.

Please see also answer to Question 2 (a) of Part VII - Raw opium.

Lately the Government of India have been receiving applications in large numbers for transhipments of Iranian opium destined for countries in the Far East and, as these transactions comply with all the formal requirements of the Geneva Convention, such requests are accepted by the Government of India,

XII. Prepared Opium. - (For countries where the use of prepared opium is prohibited).

1. The aim of the policy of the Government of India is the ultimate suppression of the use of prepared opium for smoking. Total prohibition of smoking has as yet been enforced only in Assam and the Central Provinces and Berar. The number of suspected opium smokers in the Central Provinces has further fallen from 7,057 to 6,358. From the marked decrease in the number c-f smokers and in the consumption of opium it would appear that the habit has been suppressed to sore extent. The sale of prepared opium is forbidden and so is its manufacture except by an individual (elsewhere than in Assam and the Central Provinces) who prepares it for his own use from opium lawfully in his possession.

The Assam Opium Smoking Act, 1927, prohibiting the manufacture and use of prepared opium is in force in all the plains districts and in the British portions of the Khasi and Jaintia Hills district. The habit of opium smoking has been brought under control to a very great extent. There were six prosecu­ tions all of which ended in conviction.

In Sind, the habit of opium smoking is confined only to Chinese and Iranians„ In Orissa, the Bihar and Orissa Opium Smoking Act, 1926 which pro­ hibits the manufacture, possession and use of smoking preparations of opium, persons other than registered smokers, is in force in the districts of attack, Angul, Puri, Balasore, Sambalpur, excluding Nawapara sub-division, the Khondmals. In the Nawapara sub-division of Sambalpur , the Central fro vinees Opium Smoking Act, 1929 , is in force. - 24 -

In Bihar, opium smoking is prohibited except by registered smokers cf ever 25 years of age. In Bengal also opium smoking is prohibited, except by the licensed smokers, anti imoking in company is not allowed even in the case cf registered smokers urd^r the Bengal Opium Smoking Act, 1932 , which is in force throughout the Province ex'-ept the Chittagong Hill Tracts. As a result, the us ? of opium for smoking has considerably gone down. The habit still persists among Chinese settlers and the labouring class of Indians. It is suspected-that the greatec part cf opium used by smokers was of illicit origin. Prosecution was. resorted bo whenever there Lad been any infringement, of the Bengal Opium Smoking Act. but addiction in most cases could not be overcome by punishment. In the Unite! Provinces all cpium smokers are registered. The Unitea PrcTinces" Opium Smoking Act of 1934 has helped a great deal in the suppression of the habit. Smoking In company has been prohibited by legislatior. in the Punjab, Delhi, Bal -ahiota-n, the North-Yfest Frontier Province and Bombay.

Please see also am-ver to Question 1.

2 ; 3, Fur number of prosecutions, convictions and penalties imposed and the quantities of prepared cpium confiscated, during the year 1939, please see statemrTt III contained in Appendix I and supplement to this statement printed as Appendix II to the Report.

'4. All pr ..pared upiu;n. wseized was destroyed.

New lielhi, December 12th,1940,