NCB issues arrest warrants in Rs 600 cr HP drug racket

The Chandigarh zonal unit of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has issued non-bailable warrants against the owners of Kala Amb-based pharmaceutical manufacturer Digital Vision for allegedly diverting psychotropic drugs to a fictitious firm and running a Rs 600 crore illegal trade network across seven states.

The accused, Ambala residents Parshotam Lal Goyal and his sons Konic and Manic Goyal, had been under the NCB’s surveillance for months, said sources.

Massive seizures

* 34 lakh tablets

* 10.57 lakh cough syrup bottles

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* 1,613 kg of raw material

* 573 kg of tramadol bulk mixture

15 arrested

Fifteen persons, including the partner of the firm allegedly involved in the scandal, have been arrested in the case. Drugs were routed through fictitious distributor firms shown based in Jodhpur and Dehradun, but existing only on papers.

On November 1, the NCB arrested Anuj Kumar, partner of Digital Vision. His interrogation led to a sister concern of Digital Vision, which had allegedly been operating using Anuj’s forged signatures and had named him as the “responsible person” under Section 34 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, said the sources.

According to the NCB probe, Digital Vision functioned as the primary manufacturer and supplier in an elaborate chain that diverted psychotropic substances, including tramadol capsules and codeine-based cough syrups, to fictitious distributor firms shown based in Jodhpur and Dehradun, but existing only on papers.

An NCB official said a special investigation team of the agency recently seized a major haul of contraband, including 611 kg of psychotropic powder, 573 kg of tramadol bulk mixture, 12 lakh tablets, 50,000 tramadol ampoules and 5,000 midazolam vials, highlighting the industrial scale of the illegal operation.

With the latest recovery, the total seizures linked to the network have climbed to 34 lakh tablets, 10.57 lakh cough syrup bottles, 1,613 kg of raw material and 573 kg of tramadol bulk mixture. The official said the total worth of the illicit network was now around Rs 600 crore. So far, 15 persons, including Anuj, have been arrested.

The deep-rooted nexus was busted through coordinated efforts involving various agencies and officials, including the Director General of GST Intelligence, Central GST and GST formations, State Drug Controller, Central Bureau of Narcotics and intelligence units.

Critical data and inputs shared with the NCB helped trace the diversion routes of associated entities, the official said, adding that the investigation was continuing to identify other associates.

Meanwhile, Digital Vision is also facing regulatory heat from Himachal drug authorities. A “stop manufacturing” order issued on November 5 cited multiple deficiencies, including uncalibrated production equipment and serious lapses in its air-handling system responsible for maintaining contamination-free conditions.