Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh police have seized chemicals and raw materials from a shop in Bhopal, potentially linked to a recently dismantled synthetic drug factory in the city. The facility’s owner has been detained, according to an official report. The materials confiscated on Tuesday could be used to produce MD drugs valued between ₹250 crore and ₹350 crore, according to Deputy Commissioner of Police Sanjay Agrawal.
On October 5, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad and the Narcotics Control Bureau raided a synthetic drug manufacturing facility in the Bagroda area, seizing 907.09 kg of mephedrone worth approximately ₹1,814 crore.
“Following the NCB’s operation against the synthetic drug factory, we received information about suspicious activities at the same location on Monday night and sealed the area,” DCP Agrawal stated. He mentioned that one Amit Chaturvedi, who was arrested in connection with the NCB case, had rented a shop in the Ganesh Market area across from a warehouse. Chaturvedi allegedly transported goods to the Bagroda factory late at night.
On Tuesday morning, police forcibly entered the shop and discovered various chemicals stored in drums and sacks. Agrawal noted that the shop was rented to Chaturvedi by Vishnu Patidar last July, and the chemicals found are known to be used in the production of MD drugs.
“The raw materials discovered at the shop have a local market value of around ₹60 lakh and could generate synthetic drugs worth ₹250 crore to ₹350 crore,” the official added. Among the items recovered was a 30-litre unidentified substance.
Vishnu Patidar, the shop owner from the Rapadia area of Bhopal, has been charged under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita section 223 for failing to inform authorities about renting the property and has been detained for questioning. The factory raided in Bagroda was capable of producing 25 kg of MD drugs daily, as reported by the Gujarat ATS. Chaturvedi, along with Sanyal Baner and Harish Aanjana, were arrested in connection with the drug operation.