Huge psychotropic drug haul near city
Forty-six kgs of methaqualone, a psychotropic substance, were seized by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Saturday. Officials said it was estimated to be worth `20 crore.
On a tip-off, the DRI officials halted a Maruti Suzuki Brezza with Karnataka registration at Kamkole village of Munipalli mandal in Sangareddy district. “On searching the vehicle, we found a large quantity of methaqualone concealed in a false casing behind the rear seats and side walls of the boot of the car. It was further secured with metal covers,” said DRI officials.
The false casing was masked by pasting a thick black cloth over it. “After systematically searching the car we unearthed 46 packets from the concealment. Each packet contained white powder weighing about 1 kg. After preliminary drug analysis, it was found to be methaqualone,” they said.
Preliminary inquiries revealed that a person at Omerga in Osmanabad district of Maharashtra, who in turn had instructed to deliver the material in Chennai, loaded it into the car.
Around 46 kg of methaqualone, a psychotropic substance, was seized by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Saturday. Officials said it was estimated to be worth `20 crore.
The substance was seized under the NDPS Act. The officers arrested three persons and also seized the vehicle.
On immediate followup, the DRI officers identified and searched a factory at Omerga in Maharashtra where the substance was manufactured. The factory was found abandoned but had all equipment and half a kg of methaqualone remains were seized. Methaqualone is a recreational drug used by youngsters. One gram of the drug sells for `4,000 to `5,000, an official pointed out.
In India, the manufacture, possession and transportation of methaqualone is an offence under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
One gram of the drug sells for `4,000 to `5,000.