Alprazolam factory busted in Gujarat; drug worth Rs 107 cr seized 

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) busted a factory manufacturing alprazolam in Anand district, arrested six men and seized the banned drug worth Rs 107 crore, an official said on Friday.

The accused had rented a factory near Khambhat town and manufactured alprazolam, a substance used in sleeping pills.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ATS) Harsh Upadhyay said alprazolam falls under the purview of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act because of its misuse as a psychotropic substance.

Based on a tip-off, the ATS raided the factory on Thursday evening, arrested six men and seized 107 kg of alprazolam worth Rs 107 crore, he said.

Upadhyay said, "The Central Bureau of Narcotics issues a licence for the production of alprazolam. This drug also falls under the purview of the NDPS Act. The accused did not have a licence. Five accused were operating the unit, while the sixth was the receiver."

A preliminary probe revealed that the five accused had rented the factory to manufacture the psychotropic substance, he said, adding that investigation is under way.