Chennai:The Chennai zonal unit of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has taken a major action to crack down on the black drug trade. The team has recovered 50 kg of pseudoephedrine chemical kept hidden under the cover of a factory manufacturing plastic bottles and cans and arrested three accused. Father and son are also among those arrested. The estimated value of the recovered chemical in the international illegal market is said to be around Rs 1 crore.
According to NCB, on November 12, a raid was conducted in a factory run by the name M/S AN Enterprises in Annai Indra Nagar, MKB Nagar. During the search, chemicals kept hidden in two sacks were found. Each sack was filled with approximately 25 kg of pseudoephedrine. Its price is estimated to be around Rs 2 lakh per kg.
The raw material of drugs had come from Hyderabad
Preliminary investigation has revealed that the recovered consignment was brought from Hyderabad. The investigating agency suspects that this chemical was to be illegally sent abroad and used in the manufacturing of dangerous drugs like methamphetamine. The role of an international trafficking network spanning Australia and New Zealand is also under scrutiny.
Now the search is on for the leaders of the network.
Pseudoephedrine and ephedrine are chemicals that can be used to make illegal drugs. The NCB team is now busy tracing the contacts of the accused, the source and foreign destination of the consignment. NCB has issued a national helpline 1933 (Manas) for reporting drug trafficking. The agency has reiterated its commitment to continue such actions as part of its resolve for a drug-free India.