New Delhi, Feb 20 (NationPress) As border security tightens, Pakistan-based drug syndicates are increasingly depending on local Indian networks for drug production and distribution.

Authorities report a significant shift towards local manufacturing due to the escalating challenges in smuggling narcotics into India.

The Punjab border, once a favored route for these operations, has also become significantly fortified. While Pakistan has attempted to utilize drones for drug deliveries, enhanced security measures have made these tactics less effective.

An official from the Intelligence Bureau revealed that the Dawood Syndicate has mobilized numerous operatives within India, instructing them to scale up narcotics production domestically.

Dawood’s associates are exploiting the existing opium cultivation zones in the western regions of Madhya Pradesh and neighboring Rajasthan, which are now being repurposed for MDMA production.

In recent months, several significant drug busts have occurred in these areas, with investigations confirming links to Dawood's operations. Law enforcement has uncovered extensive laboratories capable of producing MDMA in substantial quantities.

On February 19, the Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) conducted a raid on a drug manufacturing facility located in Village Thavalay, Mhow Tehsil, Indore district, Madhya Pradesh. They confiscated 43.820 kilograms of high-grade Methamphetamine (MDMA) along with over 260 kilograms of precursor chemicals and advanced production equipment.

An investigator involved in the operation stated that the raided facility was equipped with cutting-edge machinery, enabling high-volume production of premium meth. While some of the output was intended for local consumption, a significant portion was destined for international markets, highlighting the quality of the drugs.

Another official noted a concerted effort to manufacture the drug within India for subsequent smuggling through the southern borders and northeastern states.

The Dawood Syndicate has concluded that exporting the narcotics is strategically more advantageous than importing them, especially given the heightened surveillance along the India-Pakistan borders and the Line of Control (LoC).

The syndicate had always prepared for alternative strategies in case traditional routes from Afghanistan and Pakistan became compromised. Substantial investments have been funneled into establishing these laboratories, with a strong emphasis on meth production due to its demand in international markets.

Salim Dola has been designated by Dawood to manage operations in India. Believed to be operating from Turkey, he has been financing these labs, which have been established in both Pakistan and Dubai.

He has also activated his networks across Mumbai and Gujarat to oversee drug production in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, regions historically known for opium cultivation, making them prime targets for his operations.

According to another official, the laboratories in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are interconnected with networks in Maharashtra. Investigations revealed that chemicals required for drug production were often sourced from Thane and Bhiwandi in Maharashtra, transported by road to the labs in Madhya Pradesh for processing.

Salim Dola has invested millions into these facilities, which boast industrial-grade mixing machines, chemical reactors, and temperature-controlled chambers.

An Intelligence Bureau official indicated that numerous such labs exist, capable of generating meth valued in the thousands of crores each month. Dola is expected to seek additional locations to further expand production across the country.

The Dawood Syndicate is acutely aware of the increasing pressure from law enforcement, particularly in Madhya Pradesh. They are actively seeking new sites to maintain a continuous supply of high-grade meth, according to the official.