Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seized 23.5 tonnes of narcotic tablets worth over Rs 3,000 crore from a factory in Udaipur. Bollywood producer Subhash Dudani has been arrested in this connection.
A team raided the premises of Udaipur-based Marudhar Drinks on Friday and detected a hidden room full of cs of banned Mandrax (sedative drug) tablets. It is estimated that the room contained 20 million tablets with a weight of 23.5 tonnes.
"The tablets were primarily meant for export to Mozambique and South Africa," said Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) chairperson Najib Shah.
"The drug's overdose can lead to coma and death. It is used as a recreational drug in Africa and Asia," he added.
The mastermind of the syndicate that manufactured acetic anhydride, a major ingredient in Mandrax, and imported or locally procured other raw materials, was arrested.
"Efforts are underway to nab others involved with the drug syndicate," he said.
"The consignment was manufactured in Rajasthan," he said.
In the recent past, the DRI has neutralised 10 factories manufacturing synthetic drugs like mephedrone, ketamine, alprazolam and ephedrine, across several states.
In last five years, DRI has seized more than 540 kgs of Heroin, and 7400 kgs of ephedrine along with other narcotics and psychotropic substances under NDPS Act 1985.
