Ahmedabad: In its third major crackdown in just three months, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) Ahmedabad busted a production and smuggling ring of synthetic drugs and seized 50 kg of Ketamine worth Rs 25 crores.

Acting on specific intelligence, an export consignment was interdicted by DRI Ahmedabad officers at Air Cargo Complex Ahmedabad. The consignment was declared as a chemical, ‘Hydroxylimine Hydrochloride’ and was destined for Bangkok, Thailand.

Examination of the said consignment was carried out in the presence of officers of the Forensic Science Lab. The FSL team confirmed the presence of Ketamine in the said consignment. Accordingly, Ketamine weighing approx. 50 kg, was seized under provisions of the NDPS Act. The seized substance can fetch Rs. 25 Crores in the international illicit market.

During a follow-up, a factory set-up was identified on the outskirts of Gandhinagar. The contraband was being manufactured in the said facility and attempted to be smuggled out of India by air route. With the assistance of the local police of Gandhinagar, a detailed search of the said factory premises led to the recovery of 46 kgs of powdery substance suspected to be NDPS. Accordingly, the said substance along with raw materials, intermediaries, and the factory premises were detained under the provisions of the NDPS Act 1985.

Further, three key persons involved in the said smuggling attempt were put under arrest.

Further investigation is under progress.

Within the last three months, this was the third consecutive assault on clandestine pharma/chemical factories manufacturing NDPS substances, by the DRI. DRI had busted the Syndicates involved in the clandestine manufacturing of mephedrone in chemical units in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Maharashtra, and Vapi, Gujarat. The operation resulted in the seizure of more than Rs. 500 crores worth of narcotics substances and the detection of 3 such labs involved in the manufacturing of Mephedrone, clandestinely.