The New Party Drug Taking Over Bengaluru's Party Scene Is An LSD Clone Called NBOMe

A new psychotropic drug that's doing the rounds at the Bengaluru's party scene is called the NBOMe and it's explosive enough to keep the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on its toes.

happytrips

The new entrant is a highly potent and harmful party drug that has effects similar to LSD, but as the manufacturing cost of NBOMe is lower, drug suppliers are selling it as LSD to unsuspecting buyers for a higher profit.

In February this year, the NCB intercepted an international courier package that was booked from an outlet in Koramangala and was being sent to Saudi Arabia. The team expected to find 166 blot strips (1.66 gm) of LSD but was surprised when the report from Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) in Hyderabad revealed that the seized blots tested positive for (4-Methoxy-benzyl)-Phenethyl-Amine, the most common variant of NBOMe.

The new entrant

But the agency could not book anyone because NBOMe was yet to be included in the list of banned narcotic substances under the NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act. But the agency stepped up its surveillance on the party drug circuit in Bengaluru and it was revealed that NBOMe had made an entry in the IT city.

A detailed report was forwarded to the NCB headquarters that finally led to NBOMe's inclusion in the list of banned substances under the NDPS Act in July.

shroomery

"It is emerging as one of the most popular party drugs in the city. It is very cheap to process compared to LSD and has similar hallucinogenic effects. So the drug pushers are selling NBOMe as LSD and making a huge profit at the expense of naive customers. Although, there are others who specifically demand NBOMe," an NCB source said.

According to NCB sources, after the initial seizure of the NBOMe package, a team raided the residences of two youths from Mangaluru settled here in Indiranagar and RT Nagar, which led to the seizure of several blotter papers and a chemical distillation still set-up. The distillation still and beaker were sent for forensic analysis at CFSL and a tiny drop of salt residue again tested positive for NBOMe.

"It has been revealed that NBOMe is in circulation and its liquid form on blotter papers is being sold in the city. A lot of research material was available online which was their main reference material for preparing it," an NCB official said.

blotter paper. Image source: Imgur

The officials added that blotter papers could be procured in bulk quantities for as cheap as Rs 700 from Goa. They have specific markings (blotter art) which also indicate the potency of the NBOMe dose on it.

What is NBOMe?

NBOMe is a derivative of methoxy benzaldehyde and a few other common chemicals distilled and boiled in the right combination. Its liquid form is then used on the blot strips before it is placed on or under the tongue for the narcotic to be absorbed into the system and induce a hallucinogenic effect.

"One dose of LSD (1 blot piece) is usually sold in the city for upwards of Rs 2,000. The total cost incurred in preparing one dose of NBOMe is just over Rs 300. So selling NBOMe as LSD ensures a huge profit for drug-sellers. The party crowd and working professionals are the main targets," said another sleuth.

Neurosoup

Sources claimed that surveillance and tracking were underway to track NBOMe peddlers in the city. They also added that the NBOMe gangs in Karnataka have roots in Mangaluru and Bengaluru and also have close links with drug syndicates in Goa and Maharashtra.

"We are closely tracking the NBOMe situation in the city. We will not be in a position to divulge many operational details. We are focusing on the party circuits here and stern action will be taken against those responsible for promoting and selling narcotic substances," said SK Sinha, NCB zonal director, Bengaluru.

Origins of NBOMe

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According to online reports, NBOMe has been prevalent in the US and European countries since 2010. It is scientifically classified as one of the new psychoactive substances that are often used as alternatives to popular psychotropic drugs as they induce the same effect due to their similar chemical and molecular combinations. There are different variants of NBOMe - depending on its narco potency - in circulation and some of them have been responsible for numerous drug overdose deaths in the US, Australia and Britain.