Gujarat ANTF seizes 540 Pentazocine injections in Bharuch, one arrested
Synopsis
Gujarat's ANTF raided a rented shop near Madina Masjid in Bharuch and recovered 540 prohibited Pentazocine Lactate injections worth ₹53,480 — all held without a prescription or permit. A scrap dealer has been arrested, and a Mumbai-based alleged supplier is now a wanted accused, pointing to an inter-city illegal drug supply chain under investigation.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat ANTF Vadodara Zone seized 540 Pentazocine Lactate Injection IP 30 mg/ml vials from a rented shop in Bharuch on 31 July .
Arrested accused: Sarfaraz Ahmed , 31, a scrap dealer from Ankleshwar , allegedly found without a valid pass, permit, or prescription.
Total estimated value of seized property: ₹53,480 , including the injections, a mobile phone, and cash.
Ashutosh Pandya of Mumbai , alleged supplier of the seized stock, has been named a wanted accused.
Case registered under Sections 8(C), 22(A), and 29 of the NDPS Act ; investigation ongoing.
The Gujarat Police's Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) seized 540 prohibited Pentazocine Lactate injections from a rented shop in Bharuch district on 31 July and arrested a 31-year-old man for allegedly possessing and selling the prescription drug without valid authorisation, officials confirmed. The operation was conducted by the ANTF Vadodara Zone under the jurisdiction of B Division Police Station, Bharuch.
How the Raid Unfolded
Acting on specific intelligence gathered jointly by Assistant Sub-Inspector Navin Kadkiya and Head Constable Mahesh Babulal during a patrol from the ANTF camp at Ankleshwar, officers raided a rented shop at Plot No. 2, near Madina Masjid, Ansar Market, Bharuch. The raid was part of a broader ANTF directive to intensify action against the illegal trade in narcotic and psychotropic substances across the Vadodara Zone.
The Accused and Seized Material
The arrested individual, Sarfaraz Ahmed, a scrap dealer residing at Seefa Heights, Ankleshwar, was allegedly found in possession of 540 Pentazocine Lactate Injection IP 30 mg/ml vials (Batch No. FH2PZ-08) without a valid pass, permit, or doctor's prescription. Officers also recovered one mobile phone and cash; the total estimated value of the seized property is ₹53,480.
Wanted Accused Named
The ANTF has named Ashutosh Pandya, a resident of Mumbai, as a wanted accused, alleging he supplied the seized stock to Ahmed. Pandya remains at large as investigators work to trace him and map the wider distribution network allegedly behind the illegal supply of the injections.
Legal Action and Investigation
A case has been registered against the accused under Sections 8(C), 22(A), and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities focused on dismantling the supply chain and apprehending the wanted accused. This comes amid a sustained ANTF push to crack down on the illegal trade in prescription and psychotropic drugs across Gujarat's Vadodara Zone.
Point of View
With prescription drugs being moved through informal commercial spaces like scrap shops. Pentazocine, an opioid analgesic, has a documented history of misuse in India, and its diversion from legitimate pharmaceutical channels is a known enforcement gap. The naming of a Mumbai-based supplier as a wanted accused signals that investigators are looking beyond the point of sale — but whether that thread leads to a larger network will depend on how quickly Pandya is traced.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized in the Gujarat ANTF raid in Bharuch?
The ANTF seized 540 Pentazocine Lactate Injection IP 30 mg/ml vials (Batch No. FH2PZ-08), one mobile phone, and cash from a rented shop in Bharuch's Ansar Market on 31 July. The total estimated value of the seized property is ₹53,480.
Who was arrested in the Bharuch ANTF drug raid?
Sarfaraz Ahmed, a 31-year-old scrap dealer residing at Seefa Heights, Ankleshwar, was arrested. He was allegedly found in possession of the prohibited injections without a valid pass, permit, or doctor's prescription.
What is Pentazocine and why is it prohibited without authorisation?
Pentazocine is a prescription opioid analgesic regulated under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in India. Its possession and sale without a valid prescription or permit is a criminal offence due to its potential for misuse and dependence.
Who is the wanted accused in the Bharuch Pentazocine case?
Ashutosh Pandya, a Mumbai resident, has been named a wanted accused by the ANTF for allegedly supplying the seized stock to the arrested scrap dealer. He is currently at large, and investigators are working to trace him.
Under which legal sections has the case been registered?
The case has been registered under Sections 8(C), 22(A), and 29 of the NDPS Act, which pertain to the prohibition, punishment for possession and sale, and abetment of offences involving narcotic and psychotropic substances.
