Ratlam (Madhya Pradesh): The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Sunday said it has foiled an illegal drug-manufacturing operation in Sejawata village on the Mhow–Neemuch Road and arrested two men after recovering 13.76 kg of Alprazolam powder and laboratory equipment.
The clandestine facility was unearthed during a raid on Saturday. Officials said the seized Alprazolam — a benzodiazepine regulated under the NDPS Act — has an estimated street value of about ₹3.44 crore. Investigators also confiscated chemical reagents and apparatus believed to have been used to synthesize and process the sedative in powder form.
The accused have been identified as Roop Singh Chauhan (51), a BTech graduate, and Abhijeet Singh Chauhan (39), a BPharm graduate. The NCB statement said Roop Singh had earlier been arrested in a drug case in Telangana and was out on bail, while Abhijeet had previous associations with the Indian Red Cross Society in Ratlam and had partnered with Roop Singh in pharmaceutical and Ayurvedic ventures.
Alprazolam, though a licensed medication for certain medical conditions, is frequently diverted and misused as a recreational drug. The NCB noted the drug is sometimes used to adulterate illicit liquor and to lace other narcotics in parts of India, increasing dealers’ profits and public health risks.
A probe is underway to trace the facility’s supply chain, financial transactions and any interstate links. Further arrests and recoveries are not ruled out as the agency continues its investigation.
