Gujarat : DRI Seizes Narcotics Worth Rs. 180 Cr From A Factory In Vapi GIDC

This operation was conducted based on precise intelligence gathered by the DRI teams from Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Surat, and Vapi, as part of the agency's efforts to combat illicit drug production and trade under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

By TBT Web Desk On Nov 6, 2023

DRI Arrests Three in Vapi Over Rs. 180 Crore Mephedrone Seizure — A staggering total of 121.75 kilograms of Mephedrone in liquid form was seized during the operation.

Surat : The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) struck a significant blow against the narcotics trade with the bust of a clandestine factory operating under the name M/s Prime Polymer Industries involved in the production of Mephedrone at GIDC Vapi, located in the Valsad District of Gujarat.

This operation was conducted based on precise intelligence gathered by the DRI teams from Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Surat, and Vapi, as part of the agency’s efforts to combat illicit drug production and trade under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

During the search operations in various locations within GIDC Vapi, the investigating teams unearthed the factory be illicitly involved in the manufacturing of Mephedrone. Confirming the suspicion, the team from the Forensic Science Lab in Surat and Valsad verified the presence of Mephedrone in the narcotics substance confiscated from the factory. A staggering total of 121.75 kilograms of Mephedrone in liquid form was seized during the operation.

Additionally, a residential search linked to one of the suspects resulted in the recovery of approximately Rs. 18 lakhs in Indian currency. The estimated illegal market value of the seized narcotics substances is reported to be over Rs. 180 crores. All confiscated substances and the recovered cash have been seized in accordance with the relevant provisions of the NDPS Act, 1985.

As a result of the operation, three individuals have been arrested under the NDPS Act, 1985, with ongoing investigations into the case. This event follows a previous operation where DRI cracked down on a syndicate involved in manufacturing Mephedrone in a chemical unit in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Maharashtra. In that operation, more than Rs. 400 crores worth of narcotics substances were seized, leading to the discovery of two clandestine labs involved in the manufacturing of Mephedrone.

These consecutive operations by the DRI underscore the alarming rise in the usage of synthetic drugs and the exploitation of industrial units for their production. The agency’s commitment to tackling the production and distribution of illegal narcotics remains resolute, signaling a stringent stance against the menace of narcotics trade across various regions.