Cocaine worth Rs 5K Cr Seized from Ankleshwar factory

Ankleshwar : In a major drug bust, a joint operation by the Delhi and Gujarat police has uncovered a drug manufacturing facility in the industrial area of Ankleshwar, Bharuch. Cocaine worth Rs 5,000 crore was seized from Aavkar Pharma Company located at Ankleshwar GIDC, marking one of the biggest narcotics crackdowns in the region. Authorities arrested five individuals, including three directors of the company, in connection with the case.

The joint operation, conducted following the investigation of a drug case in Rameshnagar, Delhi, led to the discovery of the illegal drug manufacturing unit in Ankleshwar. On October 10, Delhi police had raided a location in Rameshnagar, which provided crucial information linking the narcotics to Aavkar Pharma Company in Gujarat. This revelation prompted the Gujarat police to collaborate with their Delhi counterparts for a coordinated operation, resulting in the seizure of approximately 518 kg of cocaine and 40 kg of hydroponic drugs.

The individuals arrested in this case have been identified as Ashwin Ramani, Vijay Bhesania, and Brijesh Kothia, among others. The seized drugs’ market value is estimated to be Rs 5,000 crore, emphasizing the scale of the illegal operation. According to investigating agencies, the narcotics were found to be associated with Pharma Solution Services, which was reportedly procuring the substances from Aavkar Drugs Limited Company in Ankleshwar.

 The latest seizure is part of a larger investigation, with authorities uncovering a total of 1,289 kg of cocaine and 40 kg of hydroponic Thai cannabis across multiple locations, pegging the total value of the recovered drugs at Rs 13,000 crore. Officials suspect the existence of a well-coordinated network operating across states, and further inquiries are underway to track the entire supply chain.

The recent bust follows a series of successful anti-drug operations by Indian law enforcement agencies. Five months ago, security agencies intercepted drug trafficking activities in the Arabian Sea. On April 8, an operation led to the seizure of 86 kg of drugs, valued at Rs 600 crore, from an Indian boat. Another coordinated effort by the Coast Guard, ATS, and NCB resulted in the recovery of 173 kg of narcotics from a vessel in the Arabian Sea, highlighting the persistent issue of drug smuggling in the region.