The prime accused in a racket involving the unauthorised sale of alprazolam tablets across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana was traced to Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh by the Telangana Prohibition and Excise Department.
The accused was identified as Ajay Tripathi. The arrest follows a joint operation by Telangana Excise and Drug Control Administration (DCA) on June 4, 2025, leading to the seizure of 1,79,400 alprazolam tablets weighing 26.91 kilograms in Autonagar, Hyderabad. The seized stock was valued at approximately ₹27 lakh.
Investigation revealed that the gang, led by Tripathi, had been manufacturing the drug in Uttar Pradesh and shipping consignments via transport channels to associates in Andhra Pradesh. Tripathi was the key supplier and financier of the operation.
The two accused, Lakshmanna and Muni Shekhar, were arrested during the Hyderabad raid and subsequently remanded to judicial custody. The tablets were reportedly being distributed illegally without valid medical licences.
A special team was sent to Uttar Pradesh who arrested Tripathi and brought him back to Telangana. The accused has been remanded to judicial custody by an L.B. Nagar court.
