After Delhi, massive drug bust in MP, ~1,814-crore mephedrone seized

Close on the heels of the ~5,600-crore Delhi drug bust, the authorities have seized mephedrone (MD) drug valued at Rs 1,814 crore and its raw materials from a factory on the outskirts of Bhopal and arrested two persons in this connection, officials said on Sunday.

A total of 907.09 kg of both mephedrone, in both solid and liquid forms, was seized in the raid carried out jointly by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Delhi, at the factory located in Bagroda industrial estate, near Bhopal, on Saturday, they said.

This is the largest illegal factory ever busted by the Gujarat ATS. The unit had the capacity to manufacture 25 kg of MD drug per day, the ATS said. A process was underway to manufacture a large amount of the contraband when the raid was carried out, it said.

Two persons, identified as Amit Chaturvedi (57) and Sanyal Prakash Bane (40), were arrested. During their preliminary interrogation, it came to light that Bane was earlier arrested in 2017 in an MD drug seizure case at Amboli in Maharashtra and served five years in jail.

“After his release, he conspired with Chaturvedi to illegally manufacture and sell MD to earn substantial financial profits. and decided to rent a factory on the outskirts of Bhopal,” the ATS said. They took the factory on rent six-seven months ago, it said.

Three-four months back, they collected the raw material and equipment and started manufacturing MD and selling it, the ATS said.

In addition to the contraband, around 5,000 kg of raw materials, comprising chemicals and equipment, used for the production of MD, including grinders, motors, glass flasks, heaters and other apparatus, were also found.

Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi lauded efforts of the law enforcement agencies in combating drug-trafficking.