Amazon: Probing online marijuana sourcing

New Delhi: E-commerce major Amazon India on Monday said it is currently investigating an  issue, wherein  its platform  was allegedly used to source  marijuana.

On Saturday, an online  marijuana  sale racket  was busted by  Bhind police in Madhya  Pradesh, leading to the arrest of two persons and seizure of 20 kilograms of the contraband, according to an official. The accused were operating the racket through a  leading e-commerce firm, which received  two-thirds of  the profits generated, as per  the official.

Evidence is being collected  to see if it could  be prosecuted  for providing  a platform for  such drug transactions, the official added.

The issue was notified  to us, and we are currently  investigating it. We assure  full co-operation and support required to Investigating Authorities and Law  Enforcement agencies with  ongoing investigations to  resolve the issue at the earliest, an Amazon spokesperson said. Bhind Superintendent of Police Manoj Kumar  Singh said on a tip-off, Kallu  Pawaiya (30) and Dhaba  owner Brijendra Tomar (35)  were arrested from Bhind  Gwalior Road on Saturday  and recovered 20 kilograms  of marijuana. “Kallu used  to source the marijuana  from Vishakhapatnam  through a reputed international e-commerce firm to  Gwalior, Bhopal, Kota, Agra  and other areas of the country. Brijendra helped him in  the business,” he had said.  -(PTI)