Bhopal Drug Bust: Illegal Lab Shut Down, Highlighting Growing Narcotics Production

Bhopal is facing increased scrutiny due to its emergence as a hub for synthetic drug production, as evidenced by the recent bust of an illegal drug manufacturing facility. The lab, located in Jagdishpur, Islam Nagar, was raided on Monday by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) as part of “Operation Crystal Break.” The DRI, supported by Surat and Mumbai Police, seized 61.2 kg of Mephedrone (MD) and 541.53 kg of precursor chemicals, with an estimated value of around ₹162 crore. Seven suspects, alleged to be working for a foreign drug kingpin, were arrested. This latest bust follows the earlier discovery of another drug factory in the Bagroda Industrial Area near Katara Hills in Bhopal. The operation led by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad and the Narcotics Control Bureau uncovered a syndicate that had produced 907 kg of Mephedrone worth over ₹1,800 crore. The syndicate had been operating under the guise of a fertilizer business, concealing a high-tech drug manufacturing operation from local authorities. Investigations after the initial bust revealed that similar cartels were also active in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. In Mumbai, two supply handlers were caught, and a hawala operator was arrested, exposing the syndicate’s financial network. More recently, the arrests of a Nigerian national and a Thai woman were connected to the MDMA network run by Shahwar Ahmed and Yasin Ahmed. The city is transforming from a transit point into a center for large-scale drug production.