The Hindu : Truckloads of ephedrine seized

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 01, 2003

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Truckloads of ephedrine seized

By Pranab Dhal Samanta

NEW DELHI JAN. 31. A truckload each of a controlled chemical was seized at two places by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence on January 14 and 17. The seizures were made in Chennai and Gurgaon respectively. This would have gone down in DRI files as just another case except that the chemical involved was ephedrine, a key precursor for manufacturing amphetamine stimulants such as the ecstasy drug.

While consumption of these stimulants is not high in India, it has emerged as the most favoured drug in developed parts of the world. According to estimates available with the Narcotics Control Bureau, there are more than 30 million amphetamine addicts in the world.

This is more than the total number of heroin and cocaine addicts put together. Another estimate states that 0.5 per cent of world population is addicted to some form of amphetamine drug today.

The main bases for the manufacturing of these stimulants are controlled by two tribes — Wa and Kokang — in Myanmar. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, these two tribes, just like the heroin-dealing mafia in Afghanistan, make huge profits from this trade.

The manner in which the production units have been dispersed in Myanmar and the prevalent political situation there, experts say, make it difficult for authorities to crack down. The best way to control this drug is by regulating precursor chemicals such as ephedrine, observe officials.

In this context, India and China have been identified as the two countries from where ephedrine and pseudoephedrine reach Myanmar. As a result, in December 1999, NCB declared both these chemicals as regulated substances. It has, thus, become compulsory for manufacturers and traders to carry a host of documents including clearances by local NCB officials while transporting these chemicals.

Based on an intelligence report that a Chennai-based company Trend Pharma was illegally diverting ephedrine, DRI's Chennai unit carried out a raid on the company and seized 1,014 kg of the chemical while it was being illegally loaded. The chemical had been obtained from a manufacturer in Karnataka.

Investigations revealed that a truckload of the same chemical had left for Delhi prior to the raid. The Delhi unit was immediately alerted and on January 17, the other truck was intercepted near Gurgaon and 1,000 kg of the chemical was recovered.

No documents could be produced to support the transport of the chemical.

The company's owner, Venkateswaran, and one of its agents, Mani, were arrested in Chennai. It is understood that the drug was probably on its way to the Indo-Myanmar border. The preferred place on the Indian side of the border from where ephedrine is usually smuggled is Moreh.

Investigations are on to ascertain whether this consignment was also headed for the same place.

It is learnt that those diverting ephedrine usually prefer to route it via Delhi to avoid arousing suspicion. Given the volume of traffic that moves from Delhi to the Northeast, sources say, smugglers illegally transport the chemical via the Capital.

This is said to be one of the biggest seizures of ephedrine. In fact, only 27 kg of the chemical had been seized this year.

Just a week ago, officials from India, China and Myanmar had met in Bangkok under the aegis of the UNODC to discuss amphetamine production and supply of precursors. This seizure, a UNODC official says, has confirmed fears expressed at the meeting.

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