Amritsar police bust major pharma opioid network, 6 arrested

In a major crackdown on an illegal pharmaceutical opioid supply network, the Amritsar police has arrested six individuals, including chemists, distributors, and the plant head of a pharmaceutical company, and seized a large quantity of Tramadol tablets.

In a post on X, Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav revealed that the investigation began with a small recovery of 35 Tramadol tablets in Amritsar recently, which led the police to a manufacturing unit in Haridwar, Uttarakhand.

“Based on sequential disclosures and raids, 6 arrests were made including chemists, distributors, and the plant head of Lucent Biotech Ltd,” said the DGP.

Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said the raids at Haridwar led to the confiscation of over 70,000 Tramadol tablets, Rs 7.65 lakh in drug money and 325 kg of raw Tramadol material.

Several seized strips of Tramadol tablets bore the stamp “Government Supply Only – Not for Sale,” raising serious concerns over the illegal diversion of medical stock, he added.

Police said key pharmaceutical units found to be in violation of norms have also been sealed and their records are currently under scrutiny.