NEW DELHI: In a major blow to the synthetic drug trade, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has dismantled a sophisticated inter-state trafficking network, seizing narcotics valued at Rs 10 crore and uncovering a hidden manufacturing facility in Karnataka.The operation, aligned with the Union Government’s “Nasha Mukt Bharat” (Drug-Free India) initiative, resulted in the arrest of four individuals and the seizure of a high-end vehicle, cash, and massive quantities of precursor chemicals.The crackdown began on Jan 28 when NCB officials, acting on precise intelligence, intercepted a Toyota Fortuner at Palsana in the Surat district of Gujarat. A thorough search of the Karnataka-registered SUV revealed 35 kg of Mephedrone (MD).Three individuals were immediately apprehended. They were reportedly transporting the consignment for distribution in Rajasthan.The kingpin of the operation has been identified as Mahindra Kumar Vishnoi, a habitual offender from Jalore, Rajasthan, with a history of opium and smack peddling.Investigations revealed a troubling origin story: Vishnoi allegedly conceived the plan to manufacture synthetic drugs while incarcerated for a previous NDPS case. By networking with other inmates, he gained knowledge of synthetic drug manufacturing processes, market demand and illicit supply chains and operational logistics for clandestine labs.Upon his release on bail, Vishnoi operationalized this knowledge by setting up a manufacturing unit in the Hebbal Industrial Area, Mysore, Karnataka.Following the Surat arrests, the NCB raided the Mysore facility. The unit was found to be a full-fledged clandestine lab equipped with sophisticated instruments. To evade suspicion, the syndicate operated under the guise of manufacturing industrial cleaning chemicals.The facility has been sealed for forensic examination. All four arrested suspects hail from the Jalore district of Rajasthan.The NCB highlighted that this lab had been operational since 2024, successfully distributing multiple consignments. In response to the rising threat of Mephedrone, the bureau has issued Red Flag Indicators (RFIs) to state authorities. Authorities are specifically urging the chemical industry to monitor the sale of two key “precursor” chemicals. The NCB has requested that manufacturers verify the credentials of all purchasers to ensure these substances are not diverted for illicit drug production.“To support the fight against drug trafficking, citizens can share information anonymously via the MANAS (National Narcotics Helpline) at the Toll-Free Number: 1933,” an NCB spokesperson said.
