Five from Telangana held for illegal drug unit in Bidar

BENGALURU: A Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) team has raided an illegal drug manufacturing unit in Bidar in Karnataka and seized 91.5kg of alprazolam worth Rs 2 crore.
Alprazolam, an anti-depressant, is reportedly used as a recreational drug. Five people, including owner of the unit, were picked up by NCB, Bengaluru, officials from Hyderabad and arrested later on Friday.
NCB sources said they received a specific input about a large quantity of alprazolam being transported from Bidar via road.Following this, they intercepted a mini van at Kolhar industrial area in Bidar district and seized 91.5kg of the contraband.
Following the driver’s inputs, the NCB team raided Indu Drugs Private Ltd, a chemical unit owned by NV Reddy, a resident of Hyderabad. The seized drug was meant to be distributed throughout Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, sources said. The NCB team then raided the residence of Reddy in Hyderabad and seized Rs 62 lakh cash, which is believed to be profits from the drug trade. On questioning, NV Reddy reportedly revealed the involvement of S Bhaskara, the kingpin.
Bhaskara’s key aide and chemical expert YV Reddy, who was instrumental in putting together the chemical components for manufacturing the drug at the Bidar unit, was also nabbed.