Mescaline: Cactus-based drug smuggled in toffees is becoming increasingly popular at parties in Delhi

In a surprising development, mescaline, a drug previously unknown in Delhi, has surfaced in the city's party scene. The seizure of this substance has raised alarm among law enforcement agencies as it is the first case of mescaline appearing in Delhi's nightlife. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and a special cell have launched a large-scale operation to unravel the larger network involved in the trade of this psychoactive drug, a TOI report said.

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and a special unit, acting on a tip-off in the international market, intercepted a consignment of 3.8 kg of mescaline worth Rs 15-20 crore, delivered by a woman named Faith Rachael from Lagos, Nigeria. Mescaline had previously gone largely unnoticed in India and was rarely popular.

The drug's recent arrival in Delhi marks a significant and unexpected twist in the drug landscape. Investigators have found that the seized mescaline was cleverly smuggled in packages originally intended for toffees and fish food. Months of thorough investigation and surveillance led to the successful operation. “The arrest came after months of meticulous investigation and surveillance. The close cooperation between the special cell and the NCB was crucial to the success of the operation,” said an investigator.

Historical context and global trends

Historically, mescaline, a psychoactive substance, experienced a surge in popularity in the early 2000s, especially in the United States and Mexico. One source explained, “In the early 2000s, psychedelic trance band 1200 Micrograms released a song called Mescaline. The psychoactive substance was all the rage in the United States and Mexico at the time. Mexico was the only producer of the contraband, as it was extracted from the button-shaped seeds of the peyote cactus found in the country.”

However, the drug's popularity declined due to limited supply and competition from other substances. “The drug was very popular for a short period of time, but soon died out for various reasons, including lack of supply and some Russian groups flooding the market with the supply of LSD, which had similar effects,” the source added.

The latest seizure suggests a resurgence of the drug, particularly in the underground party scene. Investigations found that the drug was being manufactured in clandestine labs outside India. These labs, mostly located in Mexico, are known to produce mescaline from the peyote cactus and other members of the cactus and legume families. Mescaline remains popular in Europe and the US, in part because it is branded as a substance that can improve mental health. In January, Spanish police busted a drug trafficking operation in Madrid, arresting 18 dealers involved in trafficking mescaline and another substance called ayahuasca. These dealers promoted psychoactive substances through online neo-shamanic rituals and organized “inner evolution retreats” selling mescaline and toxic secretions from kambó frogs, known as “street poison.” “The early use of mescaline dates back over a hundred years. It was part of Native American religious ceremonies for hundreds of years and still is today,” said one source. Aldous Huxley's 1954 book The Doors of Perception drew attention to mescaline by describing his own experience with the drug in 1953.