Daijiworld Media Network - Hyderabad

Hyderabad, Aug 9: Four persons allegedly involved in the manufacture and transportation of mephedrone, a banned narcotic substance, have been arrested in Telangana's Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district, police said on Sunday.

The police seized 27 kg of mephedrone, valued at around Rs 54 crore, along with 40 kg of acetone, a chemical commonly used in the manufacture of drugs.

According to police, the contraband was being transported to Nagpur in Maharashtra for distribution.

Acting on credible information, a team from Bibinagar police station launched a special operation near the outskirts of Kondamadugu village on August 8. During the operation, officers intercepted a car and conducted a search.

The search led to the recovery of 27 kg of mephedrone and two plastic cans containing around 40 kg of acetone, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri Superintendent of Police Akshansh Yadav said in a statement.

During interrogation, the four accused allegedly revealed that the mephedrone had been manufactured illegally at a laboratory in Kondamadugu between August 5 and 7, with the assistance of other associates.

Based on the information provided by the accused, police subsequently raided the laboratory and seized equipment allegedly used for manufacturing the narcotic substance, including a reactor and a centrifuge.

The arrested persons include two residents of Maharashtra and one each from Assam and Hyderabad. Police said they allegedly played different roles in the operation, including organising and financing the drug manufacturing activity, manufacturing and transporting the contraband, and managing the laboratory.

The four accused were produced before a court and remanded in judicial custody.

Police said key accused persons, including the alleged owner of the laboratory, are currently absconding and efforts are underway to trace and arrest them.

The seized laboratory premises and equipment will be dealt with in accordance with the law, police said.