ATS Busts Rs.6 Crore International Drug Racket in Surat, Three Youths Held

Surat | Gujarat — In a major crackdown on international drug trafficking, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has busted a multi-crore smuggling network operating from Surat and arrested three youths accused of exporting a banned drug to Southeast Asia under the guise of herbal products. Investigators say the accused smuggled around 125 kg of Etomidate, worth nearly ₹6 crore, by falsely labeling it as aloe vera powder and shipping it through air cargo from Mumbai.

Officials identified the main accused as Nikunj Hareshbhai Gadhiya, a resident of Katargam. The other two accused are Chetan Kanubhai Vavadiya from Mota Varachha and Phudi (Bhavti) Damjibhai Padmani from Amroli. According to ATS investigators, the trio operated the illegal trade through multiple companies and forged documents to mislead customs authorities.

Drug exported using fake labels

ATS officials revealed that the accused created companies such as DWN Bioscience, Neutral Pharma, Rudra Enterprises, and Jani Pharma to run the illegal operation. Through these firms, Etomidate powder was exported to countries including Malaysia and Thailand by falsely declaring the substance as aloe vera powder or carbomer powder.

“Preliminary investigation shows the accused misdeclared the drug and sent it abroad through air cargo routes from Mumbai airport,” a senior ATS officer said.

Nikunj Gadhiya allegedly used online B2B platforms to contact foreign buyers and secured orders from Southeast Asian clients. During interrogation, he reportedly admitted sending around 50 kg of the drug abroad in this manner.

WhatsApp chats expose cartel links

The investigation took a dramatic turn after ATS recovered WhatsApp chats from the accused’s mobile phones. A chat dated February 23, 2026, showed a 4-kg parcel photo and courier tracking number being shared with a Malaysian contact saved as “TH ETM.” The messages also mentioned a person identified as “Mr. Chua,” believed to be linked to a Malaysian narcotics cartel.

Officials said the chats confirmed the accused were constantly monitoring shipments and coordinating deliveries with foreign handlers.

Courier parcel seized at Mumbai

During the probe, ATS intercepted a suspicious parcel at a courier office in Andheri, Mumbai. The consignment was declared as aloe vera powder. However, tests conducted using Raman spectrography confirmed that the powder was actually Etomidate.

Investigators also found fake invoices and bogus certificates of analysis, indicating a well-planned smuggling operation.

Smuggling drug disguised as pharmaceutical powder

The second accused, Chetan Vavadiya, allegedly operated a garment office as a front while secretly trading pharmaceutical chemicals. Chats recovered from his phone showed the drug was sometimes described as “Ginopol-24 powder” to avoid suspicion.

ATS officials claim the group sold Etomidate to foreign buyers at $4,000 to $5,000 per kilogram, generating huge profits.

What is Etomidate?

Etomidate is a powerful anaesthetic drug used by doctors to induce unconsciousness during medical procedures, but its misuse has raised serious concerns globally.

In several Southeast Asian countries, including Singapore and Hong Kong, it is treated as a controlled or poison substance due to its potential for abuse and serious health risks.