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Police in India believe drug ring used Amazon to sell 1,000 kilograms of illegal cannabis
The Confederation of All India Traders is urging national drug authorities to launch a probe after the company’s packaging material was found with suspects.
Madhya Pradesh Police has reportedly arrested two men in India who are alleged to have sold 390 packets of cannabis weighing 1,000 kilograms.
The discovery was made after police busted the drug smuggling ring and found Amazon packaging material with the dealers, according to Business Today India.
A police spokesperson noted during a recent press conference that the e-commerce company has been served notice of the discovery, notes Business Today India . Police believe those involved in the criminal operation were receiving cannabis leaves manifested as stevia leaves.
Praveen Khandelwal, general secretary of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), told Business Today that the group has asked that the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) carry out a probe into the matter.
A CAIT statement to the publication notes that Amazon India would have received a commission if the website was used and that would represent a contravention of India’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.
The act does not allow for manufactured drugs and preparation, which relates to manufacturing, possession, sale, purchase, transport, import inter-state, export inter-state or use.
With regard to cannabis, where the contravention involves commercial quantity, the penalty is “rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than 10 years, but which may extend to 20 years.”
In a tweet, CAIT called the situation “extremely shocking and a huge threat to the nation. We demand an immediate NCB investigation into this report.”
Gadgets 360 reports that Amazon India told the publication in a statement that the company “operates a marketplace in India, which enables third-party sellers to display, list and offer for sale, products to end-customers directly.”
That said, Amazon does not allow the listing and sale of products that are prohibited under law to be sold in India.
Acknowledging that Amazon India has been notified, “we are currently investigating it whether there is any non-compliance on part of the seller,” and plant to fully cooperate with investigating authorities, adds the statement.
According to Hindustan Times, the police request to Amazon included asking company representatives to explain if there was any method of verifying the sellers so as to ensure the site could not be misused for illegal trade.
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While separate from those who sell on its platform, Amazon recently reiterated its support for legalizing cannabis federally in the U.S. and has made its decision to stub out weed testing for prospective employees retroactive.
Facebook’s Regulated Goods page specifically bans posts of “content that attempts to buy, sell, trade, donate or gift or asks for marijuana;” Twitter notes the company “prohibits the promotion of drugs and drug paraphernalia;” and, as of now, Tumblr allows cannabis ads in California and Colorado, both of which are legal states.
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