New Delhi: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) said Wednesday that it had seized ephedrine and heroin worth Rs 245 crore from Haryana and Karnataka, as part of its sustained crackdown on syndicates involved in the manufacture, sale and distribution of illicit drugs in the country.
The DRI said it received intelligence on a “clandestine factory” in the rural areas adjoining Yamnunanagar in Haryana. In response, the anti-smuggling agency carried out searches at the premises over a period of two days, starting 29 July, and recovered 661 kilos of ephedrine and 5,200 kilos of raw materials used to produce it. The haul was valued at Rs 133 crores.
Ephedrine, a controlled substance listed under Schedule A of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Regulation of Controlled Substances) Order, 2013, is used in the manufacture of a party drug called Methamphetamine, more commonly known as ice, crystal meth, speed etc. It is considered to be highly addictive and dangerous and may cause sudden deaths.
The raw material recovered included equipment like “centrifuges and glass line reactors”, which were used to manufacture the chemical drug. Three people, including one of the financiers, have been arrested and further investigation was underway, the agency said.
In a separate case, the DRI recently intercepted a person at the Bengaluru railway station after he arrived in the city via flight from Addis Ababa that morning.
A search of his bag revealed 16 kilos of heroin – ingeniously concealed in the false cavity of his trolley – and valued at Rs 112 crore in the international market. The man, who was later arrested, was on his way to Delhi, officers said.
The DRI has said that it is “committed to making utmost efforts to protect India from the menace of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances that have wide ranging socio-economic implications”.
Through its operations conducted across India in 2021-22, the agency has seized 3,463 kilos of heroin, 208 kgs of pseudoephedrine and 321 kgs of cocaine — together valued at almost Rs 19,800 crore.
Meanwhile, the Mumbai Police on Thursday seized over 700 kgs of mephedrone worth Rs 1,400 crore after raids in the Palghar district. The cops have arrested five people.
Mephedrone is a synthetic stimulant of the amphitamine and cathinone class, and is popularly known as “meow meow”.
Mumbai police seize more than 700 kg mephedrone worth Rs 1,400 crore after raid in Palghar district; arrests five persons: Official
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 4, 2022
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