Banned herbal Viagra spawns illegal trade

STAFF WRITER 14:15 HRS IST

Anurag Sharma

New Delhi, Feb 15 (PTI) A herbal Viagra, coveted by many for its sexual prowess, has spawned a full-fledged illicit network of the banned drug across India and its neighbouring countries.

The demand for 'Yarsha Gomba,' also known as 'Keera Jhar,' banned under the Bio-Diversity Act is so huge within the country and among foreigners that large quantities are illegally procured from small farmers in Uttarakhand for trade in the Chinese market, an investigation revealed.

Security agency officials say they are aware of the existence of network operations which export the drug at very high prices to different countries.

"Last December, we broke a racket which was trying to export 74 kilogram of Yarshs Gomba to China. They procured it from parts of Uttarakhand and revealed to us that the demand of this product in China is huge," Bhim Sen Tuty, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Leh told PTI.