In a significant crackdown on narcotics networks, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), in a joint operation with Rajasthan security agencies, has unearthed and dismantled an illegal drug manufacturing unit operating from an industrial area in Bhiwadi, Rajasthan. The raid led to the seizure of approximately 22 kilograms of banned psychotropic substances.
Coordinated Raid Based on Intelligence
Acting on specific and credible intelligence inputs, a team from the Gujarat ATS, supported by their Rajasthan counterparts, conducted a targeted raid on Sunday, December 28. The operation zeroed in on a facility posing as a pharmaceutical unit within the RIICO industrial area of Bhiwadi.
During the search, investigators discovered that the premises housed a clandestine factory dedicated to the illegal production of psychotropic drugs, substances strictly controlled under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Massive Haul and Arrests
The raid proved highly successful, resulting in the confiscation of a substantial quantity of illegal drugs. Officials recovered around 5 kilograms of alprazolam, a potent anti-anxiety medication often abused as a recreational drug. Additionally, nearly 17 kilograms of a mixture containing prazepam and temazepam, both central nervous system depressants, were seized from the site.
Three individuals present at the unit were detained on the spot for their alleged involvement in the illegal operation. Preliminary questioning revealed a well-organized division of roles among the accused.
A Well-Oiled Illegal Operation
Investigations have unveiled that the accused had established the manufacturing unit under the cover of a legitimate pharmaceutical company. Raw materials required for producing alprazolam were allegedly procured through a trading firm, after which the banned drug was manufactured and supplied to contacts outside Rajasthan.
An ATS officer explained the modus operandi: "The accused were running a well-organised setup. One of them arranged raw materials, another managed production, while the third possessed the technical knowledge of the drug manufacturing process." The officer added that the financial transactions and the wider supply chain of the racket are now under intense scrutiny.
Ongoing Investigation and Wider Crackdown
A formal case has been registered at a police station in Rajasthan under Sections 8 and 22 of the NDPS Act. The seized substances have been sent for forensic examination to confirm their composition and purity.
Further investigation is actively underway to determine the duration of the illegal operation and the network's distribution channels. Officials are working to identify other individuals involved and trace the proceeds generated from this illicit trade. "We are probing forward and backward linkages to dismantle the entire network," stated an ATS official.
This action is part of a sustained drive against interstate drug networks and aligns with the government's stated zero-tolerance policy against narcotics. Notably, earlier this month, the Gujarat ATS busted a separate mephedrone manufacturing racket in Rajasthan's Jodhpur district, indicating a focused effort on drug production hubs operating across state borders.
