Pharma Company Busted for Illegal Psychotropic Drug Manufacturing in Rajasthan, Three Arrested

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), in a coordinated joint operation with the Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG) and local police, uncovered and dismantled an illicit manufacturing facility for controlled psychotropic substances at APL Pharma, located in the RIICO Industrial Area of Bhiwadi, Tapukara taluka, Khairthal-Tijara district, on December 28, 2025. The premises, which appeared to be a legitimate pharmaceutical unit, was in fact being used as a covert production hub for banned narcotics, highlighting the growing misuse of industrial facilities for illegal drug synthesis.

During the raid, authorities recovered approximately 22 kilograms of illegally manufactured psychotropic drugs, valued at around Rs 30 lakh in the black market. This included 5 kilograms of Alprazolam—a benzodiazepine sedative commonly prescribed for anxiety but highly prone to abuse—and 17 kilograms of a potent mixture containing Prazepam and Temazepam, both substances with significant potential for addiction and illicit diversion.

Three primary accused were apprehended on the spot: Anshul Anilkumar Shastri (40), a resident of Agra, Uttar Pradesh, who allegedly owned the firm Ansh Trading and supplied raw materials; Akhilesh Parasnath Maurya (41), from Tapukara, Rajasthan, who collaborated in procurement and planning; and Krishnakumar Shrei Yadav (33), also from Tapukara, who possessed expertise in the manufacturing process and oversaw operations at the site. Preliminary inquiries indicate the drugs were intended for distribution through networks, including sales to a key figure named Sunny Yadav.

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The operation originated from specific intelligence received by ATS Police Inspector P B Desai, which was rigorously verified through technical surveillance and ground intelligence before execution under the supervision of Deputy Superintendent of Police Harsh Upadhyay. The accused exploited the rented pharmaceutical setup to produce these controlled substances without authorization, violating strict regulations under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

This bust represents the Gujarat ATS's second major narcotics operation in December 2025, following an earlier raid on a mephedrone (MD) manufacturing unit in Jodhpur district, where six individuals were arrested and around 40 kilograms of synthetic drugs seized. The three accused in the Bhiwadi case have been charged under Sections 8 and 22 of the NDPS Act at Bhiwadi Phase-3 (UIT) Sector-3 police station, with investigations continuing into financial transactions, distribution chains, and potential additional accomplices to dismantle the broader interstate network.

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