Gujarat ATS Seizes 22 Kg Psychotropic Drugs From Rajasthan Factory, Nabs Three
The substances have been sent for forensic examination, and further investigation is underway to trace the supply chain and potential interstate links, an official said.
Published : December 29, 2025 at 2:31 PM IST
Bhiwadi: In a major crackdown, a joint team comprising personnel from the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG) seized 22 kg of psychotropic drugs from a factory in the Bhiwadi village of Rajasthan's Khairthal-Tijara district on Monday and arrested three persons, police said.
The raid at APL Pharma's unit in the Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO) Industrial Area unearthed Alprazolam precursor chemicals and semi-processed/intermediate substances.
"During the raid, 22 kg of illegally manufactured psychotropic substances, including Alprazolam precursor chemicals and semi-processed/intermediate substances, were seized from the factory owned by APL Pharma. Three accused have been arrested in connection with the incident," said an official.
The accused have been identified as Anshul Shastri, Akhilesh Maurya, and Krishnakumar Yadav, he said. Three labourers in the factory have also been detained. The seized substances have been sent for a forensic examination, and further investigation is underway to trace the supply chain and potential interstate links, the official added.
The raid followed a specific intelligence lead about a factory allegedly manufacturing alprazolam, a prescription anti-anxiety drug frequently abused and trafficked as a narcotic, without legal permission.
In preliminary questioning, the accused revealed that Anshul owned a company called Ansh Trading, which procured the raw materials for manufacturing Alprazolam. Akhilesh and Krishnakumar, who knew the process of manufacturing, were illegally producing Alprazolam at the APL Pharma and supplying it to one Sunny Yadav for sale, police said.
"A case has been registered against all the trio under Sections 8 and 22 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, at the Bhiwadi police station. A detailed investigation is underway to determine the whereabouts of their activities, the spread of the drug cartel and the middlemen involved," the official added.
In January this year, Gujarat ATS exposed an illegal alprazolam manufacturing network in Anand. In a raid on January 23 at Greenlife Industries in Neja village of Khambhat taluka, ATS officials seized 107 kg of alprazolam worth Rs 107 crore and over 2,500 kg of other chemicals. Subsequent raids led to the seizure of an additional 500 kg of tramadol from a warehouse in Dholka near Ahmedabad.
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