Illegal drug-making unit in Bidar raided, 5 arrested

BENGALURU: Sleuths from Narcotics Control Bureau, Bengaluru wing, on Friday raided an illegal drug- manufacturing unit in Bidar and seized 91.5kg of Alprazolam powder worth Rs 2 crore. Alprazolam is an anti-depressant, which is used illegally as a recreational drug. Five people, including the owner of the unit, have been arrested.
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 the 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-manufacturing unit owned by NV Reddy, a resident of Hyderabad. A detailed search of the factory established that Alprazolam was illegally manufactured at the facility. The seized drug was meant to be distributed throughout Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, sourced said.
The NCB team then raided the residence of Reddy in Hyderabad and seized Rs 62 lakh in cash, which is believed to be profits from the drug trade. Upon questioning, Reddy 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. Two other gang members, S Meenon and Amruth, were also apprehended.