NCB freezes Rs 9 crore assets in illegal drug factory case

They added that these assets include a luxury apartment in Jaypee Greens and a factory premises in the Kasna industrial area in Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, acquired using proceeds from international narcotics smuggling.

In October 2024, a clandestine Amphetamine manufacturing lab was unearthed in Gautam Budh Nagar during a joint operation by the NCB and the Delhi Police Special Cell.

In a major seizure, the officials recovered 95.501 kg of Amphetamine in both solid and liquid forms during the raid.

The joint teams had also arrested five persons in this case.

The laboratory was allegedly set up by a Delhi-based businessman along with a Tihar Jail warden. Besides, a Mexican cartel member was also a part of the syndicate. However, the

NCB is yet to reveal their names.

The agency had initially received a tip-off about the illegal laboratory being established in the national capital region (NCR) for the production of synthetic drugs like meth for export to other countries as well as consumption in India.

Investigations revealed that it was financed by the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), a notorious Mexican cartel, which transferred money to Dubai using cryptocurrency, according to the NCB sources.

The amount was then received in New Delhi, in cash, by the accused through hawala in three separate instalments.

Based on the inputs, the NCB conducted a search in a factory located in Gautam Budh Nagar on October 25, 2024, and found about 95 kg of meth in solid and liquid forms.

Chemicals like acetone, sodium hydroxide, methylene chloride, premium grade ethanol, toluene, red phosphorus, ethyl acetate and imported machinery for manufacturing were also found.