DRI busts narcotic drug unit in Maharashtra; 3 held for export bid to Nigeria
Mumbai, Aug 10 (IANS) The DRI dismantled an organised network involved in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs in Maharashtra’s Ambernath and foiled a bid to export these to Nigeria with the arrest of three accused, an official said on Monday.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) unearthed the unit manufacturing Tramadol Hydrochloride tablets, a scheduled psychotropic substance, after a week-long intelligence-led operation, said a statement.
The operation culminated in the arrest of three key accused persons, including the Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) holder/exporter, the supplier-cum-coordinator and the clandestine manufacturer of the Tramadol tablets.
Tramadol and Tapentadol are synthetic opioid analgesics widely used under medical supervision for the management of moderate to severe pain. Owing to their abuse potential and risk of dependence, both medicines are subject to stringent regulatory controls, said the DRI.
The operation was a part of DRI’s sustained crackdown on illicit manufacture and transnational trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, it said
The week-long intelligence-led operation resulted in the seizure of 1 lakh Tramadol Hydrochloride tablets, 1 lakh Tapentadol tablets, machinery and raw materials used in the clandestine manufacture of psychotropic substances, and the arrest of three key members of the syndicate, the statement said.
The case started unfolding on August 2 when, in an intelligence-led operation, the officers of DRI intercepted an export consignment at the Mumbai Air Cargo Complex destined for Nigeria, said the statement.
The export consignment had been declared as containing Pregabalin capsules – 300 mg. Detailed examination, however, resulted in the recovery and seizure of 1 lakh Tramadol Hydrochloride tablets 250 mg (weighing approximately 25 kg) and 1 lakh Tapentadol tablets 200 mg (weighing approximately 20 kg), which had been concealed inside the export consignment, the DRI said.
The investigations by DRI said the Tramadol tablets were clandestinely manufactured at a factory in Ambernath and packed in plain cartons to conceal their identity.
The consignments were thereafter transported to a warehouse near the Mumbai Air Cargo Complex, where they were repacked in white gunny bags and prepared for illegal export to Nigeria, said the statement.
In a series of coordinated follow-up operations conducted over the week, DRI officers carried out searches at multiple locations linked to the exporter, manufacturer, supplier, transporter and storage warehouse.
Searches at the manufacturing facility resulted in the seizure of tablet compression machinery, besides substantial quantities of raw materials, to be used in the clandestine manufacture of psychotropic substances, it said.
Tramadol has been notified as a psychotropic substance under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, whereas Tapentadol, though not presently included in the Schedule to the NDPS Act, is strictly regulated under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and the rules made thereunder, the statement said.
The illicit manufacture, diversion and trafficking of these medicines pose a serious public health concern and are frequently linked to organised transnational drug trafficking networks, it said.
–IANS
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