Gurugram, Mar 4 (IANS): The Crime Branch of Gurugram Police has arrested three persons for alleged involvement in the smuggling of methadone powder, a contraband drug.

Shamsher Singh, Assistant Commissioner of Police at the Crime Branch, said methadone power was used by the pharmaceutical companies to manufacture medicines for de-addiction. The sale and purchase of methadone in the powder form is banned in Haryana.

"A Crime Branch team had specific information about a gang involved in smuggling contraband drugs from the border areas of Haryana and Rajasthan. Accordingly, we conducted a raid at Dadawas bus stand, near Pataudi, and seized 1.858 kg methadone," Singh said.

The accused have been identified as Sudhir Singh, Vikash Singh and Dipak. They were produced at the district court on Sunday, which remanded them to one-day police custody.

"Known as notorious smugglers of contraband drugs, Sudhir and Vikash were active in Mahendragarh, Rewari, Gurugram and Delhi. They had struck a deal with Dipak and were to hand over a consignment at the Pataudi bus stand. The accused were caught red-handed by the Crime Branch team," the ACP said.

"The seized methadone powder is valued at Rs 25 lakh in the international market. It is often used in rave parties in the National Capital Region," he said.