Small, intermediate, commercial: the three quantity bands that decide a drug sentence

Background

The Kerala Police have put out the first five months' figures for Operation Toofan, the State-wide drive against drug trafficking and substance abuse: 15,515 people arrested and 14,369 cases registered, of which 193 involved commercial quantities, 638 intermediate quantities and 4,651 small quantities. Those three bands come from the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, which grades punishment by how much was found. Section 21 covers contravention in relation to manufactured drugs and preparations. Where the quantity is small, the punishment is rigorous imprisonment of up to one year, or a fine of up to ten thousand rupees, or both. Where it is more than a small quantity but less than a commercial quantity, rigorous imprisonment can run to ten years with a fine of up to one lakh rupees. Where it is a commercial quantity, rigorous imprisonment is not less than ten years and can extend to twenty years, with a fine of not less than one lakh rupees and up to two lakh rupees. The court can record reasons in its judgment and impose a fine above two lakh rupees. Action in the Kerala drive was also taken under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, and the PIT-NDPS Act, which deals with drug trafficking.