India, July 9 -- The state government on Tuesday tabled a bill in the legislative assembly to amend the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), 1999, bringing drug peddlers dealing with commercial quantities of banned narcotic substances under its ambit.

The law is being amended as provisions in the existing Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act are insufficient to deal with the menace of commercial drug peddling, said sources in the home department.

"The amendment will enable police to book drug dealers and peddlers under the MCOCA for stricter punishments," a home department official told HT.

Peddlers handling commercial quantities of drugs are booked under the NDPS Act but are released immediately as ther...