Naveen Kumar
Inter-state drug cartel operating from Hyderabad as a base of operations was unearthed following a series of raids by the officials of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). In a carefully coordinated operation spread out over 3 days across multiple locations in Hyderabad and Mumbai, officers of DRI seized over 250 kilos.
Acting on a tip-off that Mephedrone, a banned psychotropic substance under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act), was being illegally manufactured in the outskirts of Hyderabad, officers of DRI busted a factory and seized 142.6 kilos of Mephedrone, a psychotropic substance valued at approximately Rs 28.52 Crores approx and 31 kilos of Ephedrine, a controlled substance valued at approximately Rs 3.1 crores.
The said drugs were meant for supply to various cities in India. “One such consignment sent from Hyderabad was intercepted at Mumbai. The Mephedrone consignment had been cleverly loaded in a private passenger bus as cargo with no persons accompanying it, to ensure that even if the consignment was caught, no individuals could be linked to it. However, in a series of swift follow-up raids, the recipients of the consignment in Mumbai were identified and their premises including a drug manufacturing laboratory in a residential premises raided by DRI. It resulted in recovery of Mephedrone and Ketamine which was ready to be distributed, in addition to samples of other psychotropic substances, clearly indicating a sophisticated distribution network both within the country and abroad,” officials shared. Rs. 45 lakh cash in INR, USD and EUR currency notes, was also seized.
In the said operation, the mastermind who was illegally manufacturing the said drugs was arrested in Hyderabad and two more persons were arrested in Mumbai. The mastermind is a past offender and was earlier arrested by DRI in 2017 under the provisions of the NDPS Act and released on bail.
Mephedrone is a synthetic stimulant drug generally abused for recreation and popular among the urban college-going crowd. It is colloquially known as bath salt, Meow Meow, etc. and is known for its effects similar to that of MDMA, amphetamines and cocaine. Ketamine, popularly used as a party and date rape drug, was brought under the purview of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 in 2011 as a controlled substance to be manufactured under special licence, following incidents of its smuggling and recreational use came to light. Also known as Special K or Kit Kat, Ketamine leaves the user with a sense of euphoria or a feeling of disconnect from the self. Even a little overdose can cause severe damage to the body’s motor control and lead to cardiac arrest and paralysis.
Ephedrine is a highly sought-after chemical precursor in the illicit manufacture of methamphetamine. “The syndicate had a well-established chain of supply both within and outside the country. The payment for the raw material and finished products took place through Hawala channels,” added the officials.
This seizure of contraband from such multi state operation, coming on the heels of recent seizure of Afghan Heroin worth Rs. 1000 Crores from a container which had arrived from Iran, shows that DRI is at the forefront of combating the Drug menace in India.
