Nearly 20 women drug peddlers have been nabbed in the recent times by the Ferozepur Police in the district alone. The trend indicates women are increasingly being recruited into the drugs trade as “mules” or independent peddlers, driven by economic distress, family ties to the trade and their perceived ability to evade police scrutiny.In India, Punjab has reportedly recorded the highest number of women arrested for drug smuggling over a three-year period with over 3,000 arrests. In fact, over 10 per cent of all NDPS FIRs registered in the state now name women as accused or co-accused.An Intelligence official, pleading anonymity, said drug peddling had increasingly become a family enterprise in this region sharing border with Pakistan. In several families, women took over operations following the arrest of their men members in the government’s drive, ‘War against Drugs’.Even the cross-border agencies are now using women as couriers as they are considered “safer” carriers; being less likely to be frisked by men officers and can use public transport more inconspicuously. “Lack of employment options juxtaposed with desire to make quick buck are also driving women to drug smuggling,” said another official, adding that the trend had seen a spurt in last few months.On March 31, the police arrested one Rajbeer Kaur from Shah Wala Road near Zira and recovered 3.115 kg heroin and drug money of Rs 11.50 lakh from her. On January 12, two smugglers, including a woman of Lakhe ke Uthar village in Fazilka, were nabbed and 512 gram of ICE drug was recovered from them. On January 16, the police booked another woman, a resident of Amir Khas village, and Panje Ke Uthar village resident in Guruharsahai and recovered 420 intoxicating tablets from them.During her recent visit to this border district, Punjab State Women Commission Chairperson Raj Lali Gill expressed concern over women being increasingly exploited and used as “couriers” in narcotics trade.“The involvement of women in the drug trade is indeed a matter of concern for society. There should be ample employment opportunities for the females belonging to economically weaker section so that they do not fall in this trap of drug trade,” said Dr Mridul Sharma, a psychiatrist.