The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) dismantled a clandestine mephedrone manufacturing unit in Bhopal’s Jagdishpur (Islamnagar), Huzur Tehsil, seizing 61.2 kg of the drug in liquid form, valued at ₹92 crore, during ‘Operation Crystal Break’ on August 16. Seven key operatives were arrested across Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh, exposing a sophisticated drug syndicate linked to an overseas mastermind.

The raid, supported by Surat and Mumbai police, targeted a hidden facility deliberately shielded to evade detection. DRI officers apprehended two individuals, including the chemist, caught in the act of producing mephedrone, a psychotropic substance under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, known for its cocaine-like effects and growing popularity among Indian youth. Additionally, 541.53 kg of raw materials, including Methylene Dichloride, Acetone, Monomethylamine, Hydrochloric Acid, and 2-Bromo, along with processing equipment, were seized.

Follow-up operations led to the arrest of a cartel member in Basti, Uttar Pradesh, overseeing raw material supply from Bhiwandi, near Mumbai. Two chemical suppliers and a transporter were nabbed in Mumbai, while a hawala operator facilitating funds from Surat and Mumbai to Bhopal was detained in Surat. The DRI’s investigation revealed the syndicate operated under instructions from an India-based kingpin and an overseas operator, with 400 kg of raw materials supplied between March and July 2025.

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This marks the DRI’s sixth mephedrone factory bust in the past year, with prior raids in Nagpur and Latur, Maharashtra. The operation underscores the agency’s resolve to combat illicit drug networks, amid concerns over mephedrone’s societal impact. Posts on X hailed the DRI’s efforts, though some criticized the recurring busts as evidence of lax oversight.

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