Lucknow: Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), working with Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), has busted a clandestine mephedrone manufacturing facility operating in a remote village in Orai area of Jalaun district and arrested two men allegedly linked to an illicit drug manufacturing and trafficking network.Officials said the seized drugs, precursor chemicals and equipment are estimated to be worth about ₹300 crore.The arrested accused were identified as Santosh Kumar (37), a resident of Sangli in Maharashtra, and Hemendra Kushwaha (28), from Jalaun. According to investigators, the two became acquainted while lodged in Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai and later allegedly joined hands to run the illegal operation.The joint operation was carried out in the early hours of Thursday.DRI officers, assisted by UP ATS, moved through narrow village lanes and conducted a surprise raid at the premises, officials said. During the search, the team found a functional laboratory set up for manufacturing synthetic psychotropic substances.Agencies said the raid led to the seizure of about 1,102.88 kg of drugs, semi-processed substances, precursor chemicals and other related material, along with machines and equipment used for production. From the manufacturing unit itself, officers recovered around 184 kg of semi-processed drugs and 582.2 kg, by gross weight, of precursor chemicals and other material.Investigators then carried out follow-up searches at residential premises linked to the accused. At one location, officials said they recovered 15.44 kg of finished mephedrone, 152.94 kg, by gross weight, of chemicals and a machine allegedly used in the manufacturing process. At another premises associated with the second accused, officers seized a further 168.3 kg, by gross weight, of precursor chemicals.Officials said the combined seizures from the manufacturing unit and the two premises totalled 1,102.88 kg. The arrests and recovery of an operational laboratory are expected to aid the probe into the wider network, including sourcing of precursor chemicals, intended destinations for the finished drug and the distribution channels involved.The agencies said they would also examine seized equipment and materials to assess the scale and duration of the alleged operation. DRI linked the action to ongoing efforts against illegal drug manufacturing and trafficking under govt’s Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan. Further investigation is underway.
