In a major blow to synthetic drug manufacturing, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted a clandestine factory engaged in the production of Alprazolam, a psychotropic substance under the NDPS Act, 1985.
The illegal unit was located in a sparsely populated area off the Gujarat State Highway (SH) 701 in Valsad district.
According to a release from the Ministry of Finance, the operation, codenamed “Operation White Cauldron,” led to the seizure of Alprazolam worth Rs 22 crore and the arrest of four individuals, including the masterminds behind the operation who were financiers and manufacturers, along with the intended recipient of the drugs.
Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officers conducted discreet surveillance on the identified site before launching a swift and coordinated raid on 4 November. The operation uncovered a full-scale illegal manufacturing facility equipped with industrial-grade machinery.
During the search, officials seized 9.55 kg of finished Alprazolam, 104.15 kg of semi-finished product, and 431 kg of raw materials, including p-Nitrochlorobenzene, Phosphorus Pentasulfide, Ethyl Acetate, and Hydrochloric Acid.
A complete industrial-scale processing setup, comprising reactors, a centrifuge, an industrial refrigeration unit, and a heating mantle, was also recovered from the premises.
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The operation resulted in the arrest of two key individuals directly involved in the manufacturing and financing of Alprazolam, along with an employee assisting in production.
The recipient of the drugs, who had travelled from Telangana to collect the consignment, was also apprehended, bringing the total number of arrests to four.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the manufactured Alprazolam was intended for supply to Telangana, where it was potentially to be mixed with Toddy.
Notably, in August 2025, the DRI had busted a similar Alprazolam manufacturing unit in Atchuthapuram, Anakapalli District, Andhra Pradesh. The 119.4 kg of Alprazolam seized in that case was also reportedly destined for Telangana for mixing in Toddy.
This year alone, the DRI has dismantled four clandestine drug manufacturing facilities through intelligence-driven operations. The agency’s continuous vigilance and operational excellence reflect its firm commitment to the Government’s “Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan,” aimed at protecting citizens from the menace of narcotic and psychotropic substances.
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