The Thane Police have summoned directors of Avon Lifesciences in connection with the ephedrine trafficking racket that was busted last week. The Thane Crime Branch had arrested five persons and seized ephedrine worth Rs 2,000 crore. The drugs were seized from a godown belonging to Avon Lifesciences in Solapur.
“We have issued summonses to all directors of the company, asking them to come and give us details needed for the investigation. So far, the probe indicates that only Avon was involved in the racket,” said Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Makarand Ranade, Thane Police.
The police have expanded the scope of their investigation, bringing all the offices and godowns of the company under their scanner. “We are examining all the premises owned by the company for further leads,” said Thane Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh. Officials said they have identified at least three persons who were allegedly brought in by Avon to run the ephedrine racket, and that these three suspects have made several foreign trips till now. The trio are suspected of having facilitated transport of around 100 kilograms of ephedrine from the godown in Solapur to a location out of Maharashtra, and this angle is being probed.
“We have provided details of our investigation to Central agencies like the Narcotics Control Bureau, and they are probing to find out whether other such pharma companies are involved in the illegal drug trade,” an officer said.
