In Andhra Pradesh, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) conducted a significant operation to crack down on the illicit production of synthetic drugs. The DRI discovered a clandestine facility in the Kondapalli Industrial Development Area of NTR district engaged in manufacturing Alprazolam, a psychotropic substance under the NDPS Act, 1985. During the raid, authorities seized 237 kg of drugs valued at Rs 47 crore and apprehended two individuals.
The operation, named “Operation White Hammer,” took place on March 11-12 and exposed a sophisticated industrial setup camouflaged as a chemical manufacturing unit. The seized items included 3.5 tonnes of chemicals, 237 kg of Alprazolam, raw materials, various chemicals, and industrial-scale equipment like reactors and driers. The DRI described this as a well-organized, large-scale clandestine manufacturing facility.
Investigations revealed that the illegal operation was led by a chemist with extensive experience in the chemical and pharmaceutical sector, in collaboration with an associate responsible for sourcing raw materials and distribution in Hyderabad. The accused had rented the factory premises for the secret production of Alprazolam, and both individuals have been arrested. This action is part of the DRI’s ongoing efforts to dismantle clandestine drug manufacturing units and support the government’s Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan.
In a separate incident in Hyderabad, the city police arrested four drug peddlers and confiscated 3.2 kg of Ganja. Acting on a tip-off, the Commissioner’s Task Force, Charminar Zone team, along with local police stations, apprehended two interstate ganja transporters and two local peddlers involved in the transportation and sale of dry ganja, seizing 3.2 kgs of the substance.
