Gujarat ATS, Rajasthan police bust ‘illegal drug factory’ in Rajasthan, seize 22 kg psychotropic substances

After verifying the inputs through technical surveillance and human intelligence, a team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Harsh Upadhyay, along with officers from the Jaipur unit of Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG) and Bhiwadi district police, conducted a raid on Sunday at the factory located in the RIICO Industrial Area of Bhiwadi city, Tapukara taluka.

“During the raid, a narcotic drug manufacturing unit was detected and approximately 22 kg of illegally manufactured psychotropic substances were seized, including about 5 kg of Alprazolam and approximately 17 kg of a mixture of Prazepam and Temazepam,” the ATS said in a statement on Monday.

The arrested suspects have been identified as Anshul Anilkumar Shastri (40) of Agra, Uttar Pradesh, and Akhilesh Parasnath Maurya (41) and Krishnakumar Shrei Yadav (33) of Tapukara, Rajasthan.

Preliminary investigation allegedly revealed that Shastri owned a firm named Ansh Trading, through which he allegedly procured and supplied raw materials required for the illegal manufacture of Alprazolam along with his associate Akhilesh Maurya. They allegedly roped in Krishnakumar Yadav, who had knowledge of the manufacturing process

The ATS said the suspects were selling the manufactured Alprazolam to an individual identified as Sunny Yadav. A case has been registered against the suspects at Bhiwadi Phase-3 (UIT) Sector 3 police station under Sections 8 and 22 of the NDPS Act.

Officials said further investigation is underway to determine the duration of the operation, identify the supply network, trace proceeds of the crime, and ascertain the involvement of other individuals.

Earlier, on December 8, the Gujarat ATS had busted another alleged illegal factory manufacturing mephedrone in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur district, seizing 40 kg of liquid mephedrone and arresting six persons.