In a swift operation, sleuths of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Friday busted a clandestine laboratory that was manufacturing methamphetamine in Sivaganga district and detained two Iranian nationals running it.
A large quantity of the drug worth several crores of rupees in the international market was seized. Special teams were formed to apprehend a few others who escaped from the scene, sources in intelligence agencies said. A team led by Deputy Director-General of NCB Vijay Kumar raided the laboratory located in a house at Keelsevalpatti near Tirupattur. The two Iranians had established a world class laboratory to manufacture the drug. Some local drug peddlers who helped them in setting up the facility were absconding.
“Methamphetamine is a scheduled drug that has an enormous potential for abuse since it is an addictive stimulant. The Iranian nationals arrived in India last week and reached Sivaganga district four days ago. They had planned to export the drugs to South-East Asia and European countries… several kilograms of methamphetamine were seized from the laboratory,” a senior police official said.
“Investigators are yet to explore the laboratory and storage points since it needs a special apron to enter the premises. When left halfway, the process of manufacturing the drug could become hazardous as it involves some chemical substances,” he said.
