Interstate psychotropic drug racket unearthed, 3 nabbed

The Delhi Police Crime Branch has busted a major interstate psychotropic drug racket with the arrest of three persons and seizure of 31 kg of Alprazolam (psychotropic drug), approximately three lakh tablets, officials said on Saturday.

The police also recovered illegal manufacturing and packaging material, indicating a large-scale illicit pharmaceutical operation.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of ER-II, Crime Branch, conducted a targeted surveillance operation to dismantle a network involved in the trafficking of psychotropic substances across the National Capital Region (NCR).

During the operation, the police arrested two accused, identified as Shamim (29) of Budaun and Rajeev Sharma (53) of Bulandshahar, Uttar Pradesh, near the Nand Nagri Bus Depot while they were travelling in a car bearing registration number UP-13-CF-7336.

During the search of the vehicle, the police recovered 31-kg Alprazolam tablets, which fall under commercial quantity as per the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The commercial quantity threshold for Alprazolam is 100 grams. The police also seized 11 kg of aluminium foil rolls printed with “Alprazolam”, 25 kg of PVC sheet rolls used for tablet packaging, 20 rubber stamps bearing batch numbers and expiry dates and the car used in the crime.

Following the seizure, a case was registered under Sections 22, 25 and 29 of the NDPS Act at the Crime Branch police station on January 29. During investigation, the vehicle was found to be registered in the name of Mohit Gupta (35), a resident of Bulandshahar, who was subsequently arrested.

Interrogation revealed that Gupta, owner of Rana Medical Firm in Bulandshahar, coordinated the procurement and distribution of illegal Alprazolam tablets to pharmacies in Bulandshahar and Agra.

Rajeev Sharma admitted that he transported the drugs from Himachal Pradesh on Gupta’s instructions, while Shamim disclosed that he, along with an associate named Randeep, was operating an illegal manufacturing unit in Parwanoo, Himachal Pradesh.

The police said the arrests have exposed an organised interstate supply chain involving illegal production in Himachal Pradesh and distribution across Uttar Pradesh and NCR. Further investigation is underway to identify other members of the network and dismantle the manufacturing unit.