Ahmedabad : The Ahmedabad Zonal Unit of the Narcotics Control Bureau on Saturday busted an illegal drug manufacturing facility in Vapi city of Valsad district in Gujarat.
The agency seized 68 kg of raw ingredients used to manufacture Alprazolam and Nordiazepam tablets, which can be processed and sold only on receipt of government license and only in restricted quantities.
The Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) used in the manufacture of the prescription drugs were found in powder form, and sources in the NCB said four persons apprehended in the case were allegedly about to make tablets from the drug and illegally sell it in other states.
While Alprazolam is popularly marketed as Xanax and is used to treat anxiety and panic attacks, Nordazepam is an anticonvulsant, muscle relaxant and has sedative properties. Their misuse as substance abuse is well documented in India and other countries.
Of the four persons apprehended, two are residents of Maharashtra while the other two are from Telangana.
Sources told Mirror that the accused were under surveillance and NCB raided the premises on June 4 where they found incriminating evidence of illegal manufacture of the drugs along with equipment required to do so successfully.
This is the second backyard drug manufacturing unit busted in Gujarat by the NCB. In August 2021, it raided an inter-state drug cartel that was manufacturing Mephedrone, also in Vapi city.
