National Desk, 16th August: In a significant breakthrough, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) units in Guwahati and Imphal have successfully dismantled an international trafficking network specializing in the illicit trade of drug precursors – chemicals used in drug manufacturing. The operation, which involved the illegal export of pseudoephedrine from India to Myanmar, led to the arrest of seven individuals suspected of orchestrating this intricate racket.
Authorities were able to seize a staggering 110.5 kilograms of pseudoephedrine in tablet form during the operation. The mastermind behind this network, identified as Md Abdul Wakil, a Jamia Millia Islamia graduate with an MBA, was apprehended by the NCB. Utilizing a tech-savvy approach, Wakil exploited a business-to-business (B2B) platform to facilitate the trafficking of pseudoephedrine.
According to NCB officials, Wakil collaborated with Bhadresh Patel of Recover Healthcare, Ahmedabad, using the “Tradeindia” platform to procure 1500 packets of Phifed tablets containing Pseudoephedrine HCl. He forged fake authorizations in the name of Elite Medical Store, Aizawl, to carry out the transaction. Out of the 1500 packets, 533 packets (110.5 kg) were identified as pseudoephedrine.
Nitin Kumar Panchal and Anilbhai Nayakawho, employees of Recover Healthcare, were implicated in placing orders for pseudoephedrine and engaging in fraudulent labeling. Bhadresh Patel, owner of Recover Healthcare, was identified as the mastermind behind the diversion of pseudoephedrine.
Further investigations revealed Ardor Drugs Pvt Ltd, a pharmaceutical company based in Gujarat, was involved in supplying Phifed tablets without proper labeling. Harshal Desai and Mehul Desai, connected to Ardor Drugs Pvt Ltd, were arrested for similar offenses by DRI Surat.