What led to the bust of the drug manufacturing racket in Hyderabad?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 220 kg of Ephedrine seized by Telangana's Task Force EAGLE.
- Valued at Rs 70 crore, highlighting the scale of drug trafficking.
- Four arrests made, including a former chemist and real estate entrepreneur.
- Co-director of PNM Life Science remains absconding.
- Cocaine worth Rs 7.5 lakh also seized in a separate operation.
Hyderabad, Oct 9 (NationPress) The esteemed anti-drug unit, Task Force EAGLE of Telangana, has successfully confiscated 220 kg of Ephedrine valued at Rs 70 crore in the global market.
This operation led by the Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement (EAGLE) resulted in the dismantling of an Ephedrine manufacturing operation located in a residential flat in Jeedimetla, situated on the outskirts of Hyderabad, with four individuals arrested.
The primary suspect, Shiva Ramakrishna Parama Varma, a former chemist and real estate entrepreneur from Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, was found in possession of the seized substance.
Varma, who has a criminal history related to drug offenses in 2017 and 2019, had approached Dangeti Anil, Production Manager at PNM Life Sciences, proposing to manufacture Ephedrine at the company’s facility in IDA Bollarum. Anil then involved the company directors, Venkata Krishna Rao and M. Prasad.
Varma supplied essential chemicals and financed Rs 8 lakh for further raw materials, leading to the production of 220 kg of Ephedrine, which was stored in his flat.
Authorities apprehended Varma, Anil, Rao, and Musini Dorababu, a production operator at Vignasai Laboratories Pvt Ltd, who assisted in identifying potential buyers.
Meanwhile, M. Prasad, co-director of PNM Life Science, remains at large, and EAGLE has taken control of the manufacturing facility.
In a separate operation, EAGLE, in collaboration with Cyberabad Police, confiscated cocaine worth Rs 7.5 lakh and arrested two dealers near Manchirevula on the outskirts of Hyderabad.
The arrests occurred when EAGLE personnel and Narsingi police intercepted the suspects who were allegedly transporting drugs from Mumbai to Hyderabad.
The individuals arrested, identified as Siram Ananth Kumar (50) and Peruru Veerababu (32), had been supplying cocaine primarily to wealthy consumers and party-goers in the city.
Acting on specific intelligence, a coordinated operation was executed by EAGLE and Narsingi Police, leading to the discovery of 107.4 grams of cocaine along with two mobile phones, valued at Rs 7.5 lakh.
The police are currently searching for a third accomplice, Karthikeya Shekar, who operates out of Mumbai.
Investigations revealed that Ananth Kumar has been addicted to cocaine since 2017 and resorted to peddling to finance his addiction. He and his associate Veerababu procured the drug from Karthikeya Shekar in Mumbai and distributed it in Hyderabad.
Yogesh Goutam, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Rajendranagar, Cyberabad, confirmed that a case has been lodged at Narsingi Police Station under various sections of the NDPS Act.