Drug Smuggling and Taking in India and Burma

In this vivid account the author pulls back the curtain on the drug trade that plagued India and Burma in the early twentieth century. Drawing on his own observations rather than official reports, he offers a straightforward narrative that feels more like a conversation than a dry dossier. He explains his aim to fill a gap in the literature, acknowledging his limits while insisting on the honesty of his material.

The book is organized into concise chapters that examine everything from the logistics of contraband routes to the roles of bribery, informers, and local customs officials. Detailed sections on opium, morphia, cocaine and hemp illustrate how each substance was treated differently by law and by society, accompanied by vivid anecdotes of smugglers and addicts. An appendix provides a brief historical overview, grounding the present‑day accounts in a longer tradition. Altogether, the work paints a textured picture of a hidden economy, its human costs, and the complexities of trying to regulate a habit that had become a way of life for many.