Rajkot: A tip-off led police to bust an alleged international medicine-smuggling network and seize neurology medication worth Rs 80.77 lakh near Salaya, before they could be shipped to destinations in the Gulf, exposing a corridor used to bypass export laws.On April 15, the special operations group (SOG) of Devbhumi Dwarka police intercepted a vehicle coming from Jamnagar near the Salaya checkpost. The driver, Vipul Vadher, a resident of Jamnagar, told investigators he had been hired to transport the shipment by one Iqbal Bhaya, a resident of Salaya.He was to collect parcels from the Jamnagar railway parcel office and take them to Salaya, where he would be given delivery instructions over the phone.Examining the cargo revealed a mismatch between the transport documents and the consignment.Police found large quantities of Pregabalin capsules manufactured by a Pune pharmaceutical company.The seizure included six lakh capsules of Rx Pregabalin IP 450mg, in 80 boxes, 2.79 lakh capsules of Rx Pregabalin IP 300mg in 35 boxes, and 71,400 of Pregabalin IP Lyrica 150mg in six boxes.Pregabalin is a prescription drug used to treat nerve pain, fibromyalgia and certain seizure disorders. Police said the medicines were being smuggled abroad in contravention of export laws.Devbhumi Dwarka superintendent of police Jayrajsinh Vala told TOI, “We believe the operation was part of an organized international racket. They bypassed export procedures and adopted the smuggling route. We will learn more after arresting the prime accused, the producers and senders of these drugs.”Sources in the police said the medicines were to be forwarded onward to Iran, Oman and Dubai.An offence has been registered at Jam Khambhaliya police station for cheating and forgery under the BNS and for violation of the the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.The accused are Abdulmoin Sheikh of Mumbai; Iqbal Bhaya of Salaya, currently based in Dubai; Mahammad Momin of Pune and Rajdevsinh Sodha of Jam Khambhaliya.
