After Article 370’s revocation, crackdowns on ‘Kashmiri charas’ suppliers led to a surge of cheap drugs in major Indian markets like Mumbai. This created a void in the narcotics trade, leading opportunists to introduce synthetic drugs like meow meow or MD. mid-day investigates MD’s rise, its popularity in the party scene, and law enforcement’s ongoing struggles against this menace.

Law enforcement agencies in Mumbai and neighbouring districts like Navi Mumbai, Thane, and Mira Bhayandar, Vasai and Virar have witnessed a surge in MD seizures, replacing Kashmiri charas, which was once in high demand. The abrogation of Article 370 disrupted the interstate network transporting Kashmiri charas, previously utilised in terror funding. As crackdowns intensified, suppliers faced increased scrutiny, leading to a vacuum in the narcotics landscape. This gap paved the way for the rise of synthetic drugs.