India's scenic drug haven - Worldwide Cannabis Guide - International Cannagraphic Magazine Forums

babbit · 09-30-2004, 05:59 AM

By Baldev Chauhan
BBC correspondent in Himachal Pradesh

Nestling among snow-capped mountains and surrounded by apple orchards, Manali is a pleasant north-western Indian hill town.

At 6,000 feet (1,850 metres), the resort's grassy meadows, wild flowers and wooded slopes are a major draw to tourists from home and abroad.

But in recent years, the idyllic hill town at the north of what is known as the Kullu valley, has gained a notorious reputation as a centre of the cannabis trade.

The recent death in suspicious circumstances of 25-year-old British tourist Anna Hamilton, who had a history of drug trading, has reinforced that reputation.

Missing foreigners

Since 1992, 15 foreigners have gone missing in the valley in Himachal Pradesh state, according to the Indian police.

The UK-based pressure group Fair Trials Abroad alleges that 50 westerners have disappeared in the region in the last decade or so.

Some 35,000 foreign tourists visit the Kullu valley every year.

The police say there has been in a boom in arrivals from Israel in the past three years seeking an escape from the troubles back home.

Police say some foreigners are involved in cannabis smuggling, while others marry local women and stay on.

Drug seizures have also gone up.

In the past two years, the police has seized 545 kilograms of cannabis and arrested 273 people, including 75 foreigners, in the valley on drug-related charges.

Cannabis - known here as 'charas' - that is grown in the valley can fetch up to $22,000 per kilogram in the international market, according to the police.

Choice and variety

Buyers have a variety of fancily-named cannabis strains to choose from.

There is an Afghani hybrid named, somewhat menacingly, the AK-47, after the popular rifle.

Then there is a central Russian strain, Russian Mist.

Other cannabis varieties have quirky names such as Dope Oil, Manali Charm and Space Ball.

The locally grown, extremely refined variety, Malana Cream is reported to have won prizes in an annual cannabis competition in Amsterdam.

The police says most drug deals are struck in parties celebrating the full moon in Manali and other towns in the valley.

The booming drug trade is driving locals to grow newer varieties as well.

In recent years they have adopted a Dutch genetic technology to ensure that the hemp plant-source of cannabis-grows plentifully.
Story from BBC NEWS

babbit · 09-30-2004, 06:03 AM

Hindustan Times (HT)
September 28, 2004

A TEAM of 200 personnel from the Narcotics Control Bureau, Kullu police and Homo Guards today left for Malana, a remote village in the Manikaran valley infamous world over for the production of charas or ‘Malana cream’, to carry out the biggest ever ‘Destroy Cannabis’ operation.

Kullu SP Anand Pratap Singh told HT that the team, led by Narcotics Control Bureau SP O.P. Sharma who will be assisted by Kullu DSP Prem Chand and Manali DSP Khushal Sharma, comprises 158 policemen, including a lady inspector and a woman constable. The Zonal Director of NCB will supervise the whole operation, which has been initially planned for 10 days but could be extended, if needed, he said.

The SP said before planning the operation, the images from the remote sensing satellite were scanned to pinpoint the areas, especially the hilltops near Malana, where cannabis flourished.

Singh said last year a joint operation was conducted in Malana village and cannabis over more than 1,000 bighas of land was destroyed. This year, he said, the main stress would be on the Bichen Thatch, about 10 km from Malana where high-breed cannabis was cultivated by the villagers.

The SP said the team would establish its base camp at Malana and conduct a recce of the area. Then, he said, the team, equipped with latest machines, would be divided into groups who would take care of different areas.

NCB SP O.P. Sharma told HT that last year, in a similar operation, they had warned the people of Malana of registering cases against them if they did not give up cultivating cannabis.

Malana village, situated at the height of about 10,000 feet above the mean sea level, produces high-quality charas that fetches high profits in the international market. Around 55 km from Kullu, the motorable road hits a cul-de-sac at the Malana Hydel Project. From there, it is a steep uphill climb of 5 km to reach the village famous for its ‘Malana cream’.

THC4SIM · 04-19-2006, 03:36 PM

Just back from india the other month, picked up some nice Malana Cream
1300rps for a nice 10 gram piece, very oily and nice spicey rich aroma!!, its pretty chilled out, you got to be a bit carefull but there are plenty places you can smoke, especially if you get in with some of the locals...

the grass we got there was not up to much tho'

THC4SIM

GoodbyeBlueSky · 04-20-2006, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babbit

Cannabis - known here as 'charas' - that is grown in the valley can fetch up to $22,000 per kilogram in the international market, according to the police.

no way in hell is anyone... anywhere going to pay $22,000 a kilo from some indian peasant...

no matter how good it is... $22 a gram... wholesale?

where do they get this info? it would almost make it economical to buy yourself $22,000 of commercial pot and make bubble hash out of it...

glock23 · 04-25-2006, 09:41 AM

nah what they mean is if you bought a kilo and sold it in Europe gram by gram, you could make up to $22,000 by selling grams for $22 a piece...that's often how the media misrepresents the value of drug seizures...

GoodbyeBlueSky · 04-25-2006, 11:44 AM

where in europe can you sell a gram of charras for $22 a gram??? not where i am...

only fancy bubblehash goes for that much around here... but yeah, misrepresentation by the media is all too common...

i remember someone posting an article on a bust where the newspaper claimed the growers were using a 'super strain' called HOG (THseeds) which went for $100 a seed... that was pretty hilarious

Rosy Cheeks · 04-25-2006, 12:36 PM

Eh, did anyone notice that this thread is two years old? In any case, always amusing when straight journalists report on the diabolical Universe of drug use and trafficking. Has he got any idea of what it implicates to - as an Occidental - marry an Indian woman, especially from a provincial rural area like the Kullu valley? I think not, but then who cares?

Verite · 04-26-2006, 12:02 PM

Didnt the Kullu valley just open up another Dell Tech Support Call Center?

Level three escalated support team.

Desiderata · 04-26-2006, 10:01 PM

Those support teams get younger every year......lol

aeric · 04-27-2006, 10:38 AM

they must have a good 401k

09-30-2004, 05:59 AM	#1
babbit Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Off the Florida Keys, There's a place called Kokomo Posts: 32	India's scenic drug haven By Baldev Chauhan BBC correspondent in Himachal Pradesh Nestling among snow-capped mountains and surrounded by apple orchards, Manali is a pleasant north-western Indian hill town. At 6,000 feet (1,850 metres), the resort's grassy meadows, wild flowers and wooded slopes are a major draw to tourists from home and abroad. But in recent years, the idyllic hill town at the north of what is known as the Kullu valley, has gained a notorious reputation as a centre of the cannabis trade. The recent death in suspicious circumstances of 25-year-old British tourist Anna Hamilton, who had a history of drug trading, has reinforced that reputation. Missing foreigners Since 1992, 15 foreigners have gone missing in the valley in Himachal Pradesh state, according to the Indian police. The UK-based pressure group Fair Trials Abroad alleges that 50 westerners have disappeared in the region in the last decade or so. Some 35,000 foreign tourists visit the Kullu valley every year. The police say there has been in a boom in arrivals from Israel in the past three years seeking an escape from the troubles back home. Police say some foreigners are involved in cannabis smuggling, while others marry local women and stay on. Drug seizures have also gone up. In the past two years, the police has seized 545 kilograms of cannabis and arrested 273 people, including 75 foreigners, in the valley on drug-related charges. Cannabis - known here as 'charas' - that is grown in the valley can fetch up to $22,000 per kilogram in the international market, according to the police. Choice and variety Buyers have a variety of fancily-named cannabis strains to choose from. There is an Afghani hybrid named, somewhat menacingly, the AK-47, after the popular rifle. Then there is a central Russian strain, Russian Mist. Other cannabis varieties have quirky names such as Dope Oil, Manali Charm and Space Ball. The locally grown, extremely refined variety, Malana Cream is reported to have won prizes in an annual cannabis competition in Amsterdam. The police says most drug deals are struck in parties celebrating the full moon in Manali and other towns in the valley. The booming drug trade is driving locals to grow newer varieties as well. In recent years they have adopted a Dutch genetic technology to ensure that the hemp plant-source of cannabis-grows plentifully. Story from BBC NEWS
	Quote

09-30-2004, 06:03 AM	#2
babbit Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Off the Florida Keys, There's a place called Kokomo Posts: 32	200 personnel on operation "Destroy Cannabis" Hindustan Times (HT) September 28, 2004 A TEAM of 200 personnel from the Narcotics Control Bureau, Kullu police and Homo Guards today left for Malana, a remote village in the Manikaran valley infamous world over for the production of charas or ‘Malana cream’, to carry out the biggest ever ‘Destroy Cannabis’ operation. Kullu SP Anand Pratap Singh told HT that the team, led by Narcotics Control Bureau SP O.P. Sharma who will be assisted by Kullu DSP Prem Chand and Manali DSP Khushal Sharma, comprises 158 policemen, including a lady inspector and a woman constable. The Zonal Director of NCB will supervise the whole operation, which has been initially planned for 10 days but could be extended, if needed, he said. The SP said before planning the operation, the images from the remote sensing satellite were scanned to pinpoint the areas, especially the hilltops near Malana, where cannabis flourished. Singh said last year a joint operation was conducted in Malana village and cannabis over more than 1,000 bighas of land was destroyed. This year, he said, the main stress would be on the Bichen Thatch, about 10 km from Malana where high-breed cannabis was cultivated by the villagers. The SP said the team would establish its base camp at Malana and conduct a recce of the area. Then, he said, the team, equipped with latest machines, would be divided into groups who would take care of different areas. NCB SP O.P. Sharma told HT that last year, in a similar operation, they had warned the people of Malana of registering cases against them if they did not give up cultivating cannabis. Malana village, situated at the height of about 10,000 feet above the mean sea level, produces high-quality charas that fetches high profits in the international market. Around 55 km from Kullu, the motorable road hits a cul-de-sac at the Malana Hydel Project. From there, it is a steep uphill climb of 5 km to reach the village famous for its ‘Malana cream’.
	Quote

04-19-2006, 03:36 PM	#3
THC4SIM It's all good Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: in my own little world Posts: 898	Goa - Malana Cream Just back from india the other month, picked up some nice Malana Cream 1300rps for a nice 10 gram piece, very oily and nice spicey rich aroma!!, its pretty chilled out, you got to be a bit carefull but there are plenty places you can smoke, especially if you get in with some of the locals... the grass we got there was not up to much tho' THC4SIM __________________ 1st Place Indica IC420 Growers cup 2014 with Karma's OG
	Quote

04-25-2006, 09:41 AM	#5
glock23 one in the chamber Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 1,681	nah what they mean is if you bought a kilo and sold it in Europe gram by gram, you could make up to $22,000 by selling grams for $22 a piece...that's often how the media misrepresents the value of drug seizures... __________________ RIP Overgrow! OGer from 2000-2006. I have had Original Haze that was almost like acid, unexperienced smokers would white-out or pass-out, or throw up after a toke or two... Oh, and it was Euphoric to say the least. I would feel like I was floating in a cloud, or held in the hands of a comfortable giant, I had no need for anything, I was totally blissed. - Sam the Skunkman
	Quote

04-25-2006, 11:44 AM	#6
GoodbyeBlueSky ...ever the optimistic one... Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Locked in a place where no one goes... Posts: 465	where in europe can you sell a gram of charras for $22 a gram??? not where i am... only fancy bubblehash goes for that much around here... but yeah, misrepresentation by the media is all too common... i remember someone posting an article on a bust where the newspaper claimed the growers were using a 'super strain' called HOG (THseeds) which went for $100 a seed... that was pretty hilarious __________________ 'Convictions are greater enemies of truth than lies' -Nietzche
	Quote

04-25-2006, 12:36 PM	#7
Rosy Cheeks dancin' cheek to cheek Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Back, and to the left... back, and to the left... Posts: 2,560	Eh, did anyone notice that this thread is two years old? In any case, always amusing when straight journalists report on the diabolical Universe of drug use and trafficking. Has he got any idea of what it implicates to - as an Occidental - marry an Indian woman, especially from a provincial rural area like the Kullu valley? I think not, but then who cares? __________________ . "The time has come" the walrus said, "To talk of many things: Of shoes-and ships-and sealing wax Of cabbages-and kings- And why the sea is boiling hot And whether pigs have wings." Lewis Carroll Rosy's Mugshots and stuff... looking for the Ogre Blueberry Buds and some Wild Thoughts Overgrow! -Anything said by Rosy Cheeks is made up by a person trying to make himself seem important on the internet. The pictures in the gallery are photoshopped fakes.
	Quote

04-26-2006, 12:02 PM	#8
Verite My little pony.. my little pony Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 4,750	Didnt the Kullu valley just open up another Dell Tech Support Call Center? Level three escalated support team. __________________ Strains by Verite .......................... Holy Grail Intro, Seeds at Seebay, Private Breeders Orange Diesel Intro, Seeds now at Seedbay
	Quote

04-26-2006, 10:01 PM	#9
Desiderata Bodhisattva of the Earth Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The Cosmos Posts: 1,710	Those support teams get younger every year......lol __________________ __________________ “Being happy doesn't mean everything is perfect. It means you have decided to see beyond the imperfections. "....TooFat.... "We need courage to become happy, to triumph over life’s trials, to help others, and to take action for peace and justice..." _________________ R.I.P Elemental
	Quote

04-27-2006, 10:38 AM	#10
aeric Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,260	they must have a good 401k __________________ everything is everything; what it is is what it is.. -c
	Quote