The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted a mephedrone manufacturing unit in Maharashtra’s Wardha district and seized 128 kg of the banned drug worth ₹192 crore. An official said three people, including the alleged mastermind, were arrested during the operation conducted on Sunday and Monday.
He said that based on specific information, DRI launched “Operation Hinterland Bru” in a remote area of Karanja (Ghadge), about 60 km from Wardha.
128 kg mephedrone seized
The officials raided a makeshift structure under bushes and found a fully functioning synthetic drug manufacturing system, the official said. He said that during the operation, three people including the alleged mastermind of the gang were arrested. He said that apart from seizing 128 kg of “high-quality” mephedrone during the operation, they also seized equipment and raw materials during the operation.
Synthetic Drug Processing Setup
During the operation, officers found a fully operational synthetic drug processing setup, consisting of makeshift reactors, vessels and other equipment used to illegally manufacture mephedrone. The seized goods included both finished products and precursor chemicals required for their production. This illegal factory was deliberately built and run by the local people so that it could blend into the village environment and remain undetected. The production unit itself was a makeshift, modular, simple structure hidden in the bushes.
