Ahmedabad. A factory manufacturing Mephedrone (MD) was busted in Valsad district of Gujarat, three persons were arrested and the drug worth Rs 25 crore was seized. This information was given by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Wednesday. The central agency said that based on a tip-off, the DRI team of Surat and Vapi conducted a search operation at various places of GIDC (Industrial Estate) in Umargam and Dehri in Valsad district. This action was taken on Tuesday under the NDPS Act, 1985 and M/s Saurav Creations, a factory located in GIDC area, was found to be involved in the illegal manufacturing of synthetic drug Mephedrone.
DRI said that a team from the forensic lab of Valsad confirmed the presence of mephedrone in the suspected psychotropic substance found in the factory. DRI said a total of 17.3 kg of MD in liquid form was recovered from the unit. A team of Gujarat CID assisted in the operation. It said the illegal market value of the psychotropic substances seized from the unit is around Rs 25 crore. Three people have been arrested under relevant sections of the NDPS Act and further investigation is underway. The statement said that this action highlights the continuous efforts of DRI to stop the increasing use of synthetic drugs and misuse of industrial units in manufacturing these drugs.
Former officer of customs department arrested
A special CBI court on Wednesday convicted a former superintendent of the customs department and two others in a 2009 case related to forgery of export documents and duty evasion of about Rs 14 crore. Special Judge SM Menjonge convicted all three under IPC section 420 (cheating) and Prevention of Corruption Act and sentenced them to one year in jail. According to the prosecution, the then Superintendent (Technical) of the department, Dattaram Kubde, had sanctioned Mohammad Hussain Sattar, owner of an export company, for forgery and furnishing false information in B-17 bonds (general purpose bonds used in export-import trade). Had given.
serious allegations
The Superintendent was actively involved in a conspiracy to evade taxes by taking advantage of EOU. Due to this, duty evasion of Rs 13.76 crore was detected. Special public prosecutor Ashish Bilgaian, appearing for the CBI, claimed that the third convict, Naresh Bhatia, continued the fraud started by Sattar. The court acquitted two other accused in the case due to lack of evidence.
FIRST PUBLISHED: October 9, 2024, 23:58 IST