Officers of Bengaluru and Hyderabad NCB bust drug trafficking network, seize Rs 62 lakh cash and arrest 5 persons
BENGALURU:
Officers of the Narcotics Control Bureau, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, on Friday intercepted a mini-truck in the Kolar industrial area and seized 91.5 kg of contraband Alprazolam. The seizure follows months of surveillance of the Alprazolam manufacturing and trafficking network across Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Subsequently, the factory where the contraband was manufactured, Indu Drugs Pvt Ltd, Bidar, was searched and remnants of Alprazolam powder were found on the factory equipment. Simultaneously, searches were conducted the Hyderabad house of NV Reddy, who was allegedly running the factory, and an amount of Rs 62 lakh, allegedly the proceeds of the contraband sale, was seized.
Kingpin nabbed
The kingpin of the syndicate, S Bhaskar, and a chemicals 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 the NCB team. Five persons, S Bhaskar, YV Reddy, S Meenon, Amruth and NV Reddy, all residents of Telangana, have been apprehended in this connection.
The NCB acknowledges the efforts of Amit Ghawate (Zonal Director, NCB, Bengaluru) and other officers of the Bengaluru and Hyderabad offices in the case.
Misuse of Alprazolam
Alprazolam is an anti-depressant but is also trafficked for ‘recreational’ usage worldwide. In Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the drug is widely used as a cutting agent for illicit toddy. Alprazolam-laced toddy is very dangerous and causes serious health complications, including death.
