Guwahati: In a major crackdown against drugs, the Narcotics Control Bureau Guwahati and Imphal have arrested seven drug smugglers and seized 110.5 kg of pseudoephedrine tablet from their possession.
The team successfully broke an international trafficking network of precursors (chemicals used in manufacture of drugs).
The key operator in this network, Md. Abdul Wakil was arrested during the crackdown. Wakil is a graduate from Jamia and also done his MBA.
He is also an tech-savvy, who utilized a business-to-business (B2B) platform for the trafficking of Pseudoephedrine.
According to information, Wakil contacted one Bhadresh Patel from Ahmedabad and procured 1500 packets of Phifed tablets containing Pseudoephedrine HCl for which he used fake authorization prepared in the name of a Store, Aizawl.
During the crackdown, the team have seized 533 packets (110.5 kg) were part of 1500 packets of pseudoephedrine received by him.
During the raid on various premises including offices, godowns, and residences, NCB discovered several counterfeit labels. These include fake labels of “Levocet” and “Colzen.
It might me mentioned that 1.3 million tablets of “Colzen” were previously seized in Myanmar, highlighting the international nature of this illicit trade network.
According to reports, Nitin Kr. Panchal and Anilbhai Nayaka, have been arrested who were entrusted with the task of placing orders for pseudoephedrine and engaging in the fraudulent labeling of the products.
The mastermind behind the diversion of Pseudoephedrine has been identified as Bhadresh Patel.
Meanwhile, the NCB team has been investigating every aspects in this case.
Sources said the drug smugglers are using every possible steps to trafficked drugs in northeast. The drug smugglers have a good network and linked with everyone.
Earlier, the cultivation of opium and ganja (marijuana) in Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Assam and other Northeastern states was a big clandestine business but now the smuggling of synthetic drugs has become a major illicit cross-border trade.