In a collaborative effort, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and the Narcotics Control Bureau have arrested 13 individuals across Gujarat and Rajasthan for allegedly possessing mephedrone valued at an astonishing ₹230 crore.

Officials stated that they initiated the operation after receiving a tip-off from the ATS. The operation unfolded on Friday with a series of raids targeting suspected mephedrone manufacturing units in Ahmedabad and Rajasthan. Authorities identified Manoharlal Enani, a resident of Ahmedabad, and Kuldeepsinh Rajpurohit from Rajasthan as central figures in the illicit operation.

During the raids, law enforcement authorities seized a staggering 22.028 kilograms of mephedrone alongside 124 kilograms of liquid mephedrone, collectively estimated at ₹230 crore. The arrest of Rajpurohit in Gandhinagar and Enani in Sirohi underscored the coordinated effort between agencies to dismantle the illegal network.

Further investigations revealed a nexus between the accused, who were found to be sourcing raw materials from a company located in the Vapi industrial area of Valsad district. Enani’s past involvement in mephedrone production, leading to a seven-year incarceration following a 2015 arrest by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), shed light on the intricacies of the operation.

Raids extended beyond state borders, encompassing units in Sirohi and Jodhpur in Rajasthan, as well as in Piplaj village in Gandhinagar and the Bhaktinagar industrial area of Amreli district in Gujarat. Authorities are conducting a comprehensive probe to ascertain the duration of drug production, previous sales, and the full extent of individuals involved in the illicit enterprise.

In a statement to the press, authorities disclosed the seizure of a significant cache of mephedrone, commonly referred to as ‘meow meow,’ along with ephedrine and acetone from multiple labs across Gujarat and Rajasthan. Additional recoveries are anticipated as enforcement teams continue their operations, with a similar lab in Amreli district currently under scrutiny.

The successful interception of this substantial quantity marks a significant victory in the ongoing battle against narcotics trafficking in the region.