Indore: Doomsday drug, capable of killing 5 million people, seized
What's the story
In a major operation, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence along with a team from the Defence Research and Development Establishment busted an illegal laboratory at Indore.
The lab was being used by a 'US-hating' PhD scholar and a Mexican national to make a chemical capable of killing at least 5 million people.
The scientists recovered the deadly opioid, fentanyl, following the raid.
Here's more.
Explained
What is fentanyl?
Fentanyl, also called "Doomsday drug", is an opioid used as a painkiller, and together with other medications for anesthesia.
It is also used as a recreational drug, often mixed with heroin or cocaine. It is used by injection, as a patch on the skin, as a nasal spray, or in the mouth.
This deadly drug is used as a chemical weapon too.
Quote
Fentanyl is 50 times more potent than heroin: DRI official
"Fentanyl is 50 times more potent than heroin and even inhaling its particles can be fatal. This is the first significant seizure of Fentanyl by any law enforcement agency in India," said DP Dash, Director General, DRI.
Details
Notably, over 20,000 people died in US due to fentanyl
As per US authorities, over 20,000 people have died by the overdose of fentanyl in the US in 2016.
Security agencies are now looking into the routes used to procure the precursor chemical 4ANPP, which is used to prepare fentanyl.
Past cases show 4ANPP has been smuggled into the Indian market from China.
Investigations into how it has now infiltrated into India are underway.
Information
Security officials raise threat level after fentanyl seizure
After the fentanyl discovery, security officials have raised the threat level to high. The purpose behind manufacturing fentanyl is being investigated. Considering that DRI was able to thwart the manufacture of this drug in India, this is a major operation and seizure by the agency.