Central Bureau of Narcotics Busts Illegal Drug Manufacturing Factory in Delhi

The Central Bureau of Narcotics’ Preventive and Intelligence Cell in New Delhi developed specific information about a clandestine Tramadol manufacturing plant in Bawana, Industrial Area, New Delhi, and its flagship store in Sirsa (Haryana) selling the manufactured Tramadol under the guise of Ayurvedic Medicines.

On 07.02.2022, a joint Preventive Team of the Central Bureau of Narcotics New Delhi and Gwalior conducted a raid at Plot No. 93, Pocket G, Sector 5, Bawana Industrial Area, New Delhi and at Sh. Balaji Ayurvedic Store, Janta Bhawan Road, Sirsa (Haryana) and discovered a clandestine Tramadol manufacturing unit at Bawana Industrial Area, New Delhi. The aforementioned production business pretended to be a honey processing plant, and the Tramadol Tablets it produced were marketed as Ayurvedic medicine. The search of the aforementioned facilities yielded the recovery of about 52.245 kg Tramadol pills and powder, as well as 1.08 kg of substance suspected to be opium.

Tramadol is an opioid analgesic in the same drug class as oxycodone and hydrocodone; nevertheless, due to its abuse for addiction purposes, the government designated it as a psychotropic substance in April of 2018.

A large amount of packing and labelling materials was also seized. The apparatus used in the manufacture of the aforementioned pills has also been seized in accordance with the terms of the NDPS Act, 1985. A parallel raid was carried out at Sh. Balaji Ayurvedic Store, Janta Bhawan Road, Sirsa (Haryana), which was being used as a staging area for the diversion of produced Tramadol pills disguised as Ayurvedic Medicines. During the search of the aforementioned store, pills containing 1.420 kg of Medicinal Opium and pills suspected of carrying 0.495 kg of Tramadol were discovered. A case has been filed under sections 8/18, 21, 22, 25, 28, and 29 of the NDPS Act of 1985, and two people have been arrested. More research is being conducted.

Narcotics Commissioner Shri Rajesh Fattesing Dhabre stated that the crackdown operation would be stepped up.

During this year, till date, Central Bureau of Narcotics has booked 7 cases and has seized 25.130 kgs Opium, 1.420 kg Medicinal Opium, 1738 kg Poppy Straw, 290 gram Heroin, 52.740 kg Tramadol, whereas during the year 2021 CBN has seized 62.550 kg Opium, 17557 kg black poppy seed, 9.830 kg Heroin, 29,454 kg Poppy Straw, 698.250 kg Ganja, 37,800 sq. Meters of illicit opium cultivation, 24,050 kg Acetic Anhydride, 13.390 kg MD powder and 3,29,642 Injection/Tablets of Psychotropic Substances.