Three arrested in Alprazolam drug seize in Hyderabad

Three persons were arrested by Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in connection with seizure of 121 kgs of Alprazolam, a drug used to treat anxiety disorders, valued at over Rs 24 lakh from a factory in Hyderabad.

Acting on specific tip-off that psychotropic substance namely Alprazolam was being illicitly manufactured and stored in a factory in Jeedimetla area, officers of DRI conducted a search operation. They recovered around 121 kgs of the drug from the factory premises along with a machine being used in its manufacturing, a DRI release said.

The estimated value of the seized Alprazolam in the domestic market is approximately Rs 24.25 lakh, it said. In the course of operation, three persons -- the factory's owner, a chemist and a person who came to take the delivery of the Alprazolam - were arrested, it said, adding DRI officers also recovered Rs 3.97 lakh in cash.

The trio were today produced before a local court which sent them to 14-day judicial custody. The trio, in their statements recorded during investigation, "admitted" to their role in the manufacture, storage and delivery of the psychotropic substance, the release added.

It appears this substance was earlier sold by them to toddy shop owners in and around Nizamabad and Adilabad districts of Telangana for mixing it in toddy (palm wine), it added.