Rajasthan-Maharashtra Drug Syndicate Busted: Raigad Factory Found Producing Ketamine, Mephedrone
Interrogation of the accused has revealed the involvement of other members of the syndicate including one who was a resident of district Raigad, Maharashtra and had brought the chemicals and lab equipment to set up the clandestine facility, officials said.
In a joint operation, the Rajasthan Police, Maharashtra Police, and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) recently busted an inter-state drug syndicate allegedly involved in the manufacture of synthetic drugs.
According to the NCB, the case began with the detection of a clandestine facility in Village Dholakia, District Barmer, Rajasthan, on July 22, by Barmer district police. The facility, secretly operating inside a buffalo barn in a secluded area, contained several precursor chemicals like chloroform, ammonium chloride, propylene chloride, toluene, and bromine, along with lab equipment used to manufacture the synthetic drug Mephedrone. Two members of the syndicate were detained, and NCB Jodhpur collaborated with the district police in the probe.
During the interrogation of the accused, it emerged that another syndicate member from Raigad district, Maharashtra, had procured the chemicals and equipment to set up the facility. Acting on this lead, NCB shared the information with Raigad Police, who detained the suspect. He revealed that he had previously worked at M/s Rohan Chemicals, a chemical factory in Mahad, Raigad, which is currently closed.
A search of the closed premises by NCB Mumbai and Raigad Police led to the recovery of approximately 34 kg of powdered Ketamine and 12 litres of liquid Ketamine. Several other precursor chemicals like chloroform, ammonium chloride, propylene chloride, toluene, bromine, and cyclohexanone were also recovered, along with lab equipment. Authorities believe the defunct factory was being used to clandestinely manufacture Ketamine.
Investigators have also identified a mastermind linked to previous drug trafficking cases investigated by both the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and the NCB.
Officials credited the successful operation to real-time information sharing and coordinated efforts between Barmer Police, Raigad Police, and the NCB’s Jodhpur, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai zones.
Earlier, NCB Jodhpur had busted another synthetic drug lab in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, recovering 5 kg of Mephedrone and precursor chemicals. Notably, the accused in that case included physics and chemistry teachers.
Investigations are ongoing under the jurisdiction of the Barmer and Raigad police departments.
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