Operation Prayogsala-1: NCB busts 3 Mephedrone manufacturing labs in Gujarat, Rajasthan, 7 held

New Delhi: Under operation Prayogsala-1, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), in a joint operation with Gujarat Police, has busted three multiple clandestine drug Mephedrone manufacturing labs in Gujarat and Rajasthan, the agency said on Saturday.

Three cutting-edge laboratories were raided in Gujarat and Rajasthan during the operation, leading to the seizure of drugs valued at around Rs 300 crore.

According to the officials, the raids are underway at a fourth location, with additional recoveries anticipated. The raids are carried out jointly by the NCB and Gujarat police teams.

In the operation, the NCB said, a total of 149 kg of mephedrone (in powder and liquid form), 50kg of ephedrine, and 200 litres of Acetone were seized in an overnight multistate operation.

Terming it the finest example of an inter-agency coordinated operation, the agency said that an investigation is underway and the distribution network is being probed.

"Information was received by ATS Gujarat Police from a confidential source regarding clandestine Mephedrone manufacturing labs operating from Gujarat and Rajasthan. To bust these labs, a joint team of ATS Gujarat police and NCB Headquarters Operations unit was constituted," NCB said in a statement.

In an operation spanning over three months, intensive technical and ground surveillance was mounted to identify the persons involved in this network as well as the locations of clandestine labs, the NCB further said.

Endeavouring inter-agency and intra-zonal synergy on April 27, it said, simultaneous raids were conducted by joint teams of ATS Gujarat police and NCB (Hqr operations unit).

"NCB Jodhpur Zone and NCB Ahmedabad Zone) raided at three suspected locations (Bhinmal in Jalore District in Rajasthan, Osian in Jodhpur District in Rajasthan and Gandhinagar District in Gujarat), leading to a total recovery of 149 kg of mephedrone (in powder and liquid form), 50kg of ephedrine, and 200 litres of acetone, and the apprehension of seven accused persons till now," said the NCB.

Based on the interrogation of the apprehended persons in Gandhinagar, the NCB further said, that another site has been identified in Amreli (Gujarat), where raids are in progress.

"More recoveries are expected," they said.

As per the NCB, the kingpin of this network has been identified and will be arrested soon. "Efforts are being made to track and identify the source of precursor chemicals as well as the distribution network, national as well as any international linkages."

Mephedrone, also known as 4-methyl methcathinone, 4-MMC, and 4-methylephedrone, is a synthetic stimulant drug of the amphetamine and cathinone classes. Slang names include drone, M-CAT, White Magic, "meow meow," and bubble.