Pramesh S Jain.Yogesh K Porwar
The Bangalore and Hyderabad units of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Friday jointly cracked down on an Alprazolam manufacturing and trafficking network spanning Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and recovered contraband worth Rs 2 crore and cash of Rs.62 lakhs recovered from them.
Amit Ghawate,(Zonal Director,NCB Bangalore),said,Based on specific intelligence inputs developed from monitoring the racket,officers of NCB,Bangalore Zonal and Hyderabad sub-zonal unit on Friday succeeded in intercepting a mini-truck used in trafficking Alprazolam at Kolar Industrial area in Karnataka’Bidar,and seized 91.5 kg of Alprazolam from it.
Immediately thereafter,the factory where the contraband was manufactured was raided under the banner-Indu Drugs Pvt Ltd,Bidar,Karnataka,was searched.
During the search,remnants of Alprazolam powder were found in the factory manufacturing equipments and confirmed that the said consignment was manufactured in this unit.
Simultaneously,searches were conducted by the officers at the house of NV Reddy,in Hyderabad,who was illegally running The Alprazolam factory, which lead to recovery of 62 lakhs of Rupees, believed to be proceeds of drugs.
The kingpin of the syndicate,S Bhaskara and the chemical expert YV Reddy,who had manufactured the drug at Indu Drugs,tried to flee the spot and were apprehended after a high-speed chase by NCB team.
A total of five persons namely S Bhaskar,YV Reddy,S Meenon,Amruth and NV Reddy,all residents of Telangana were apprehended in this connection.
The investigation revealed that the Alprazolam was meant for sale in Telangana.Further investigation is under process.
Illegal manufacturing and trafficking of Alprazolam in Telangana is a cause of concern for law enforcement agencies. Alprazolam is a psychotropic substance belonging to the benzodiazepines class,which are anti-depressants.
However, the same is largely trafficked illegally for recreational usage worldwide.
In the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, Alprazolam is widely used as a cutting agent for illicit toddy.
Alprazolam laced toddy is very dangerous and it causes serious health complications,including death,Mr.Amit Ghawate, said.
Finally NCB acknowledges the dedicated efforts of,Amit Ghawate,IRS (Zonal Director,NCB Bangalore)and other officers associated to the case at NCB, Bangalore Zonal Unit and NCB, Hyderabad Sub Zonal Unit.
