Research scientist arrested by Narcotics Bureau in drug bust
In a massive drug haul, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) arrested three people in Hyderabad and Bangalore. A research scientist and his wife were among those arrested. The NCB seized 231 kg of amphetamine worth about Rs 45 crore and impounded Rs 1.2 crore cash from Hyderabad and Bengaluru. Other members of the inter-state drug module are being traced by the NCB.
Amphetamine: What is it?
Amphetamine though used in minute quantities to treat narcolepsy and ADHD, is banned in India under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. It's a potent stimulant for the central nervous system and is a parent compound in psychotropic substances including Ecstasy and Methamphetamine.
Confession leads to drug bust
Director, Chennai Unit of NCB revealed that raids were part of an investigation launched after 5 kgs of methamphetamine were seized at a Chennai bus depot. This led to the arrest of accused Jeevan Kumar and his confessions helped bust the amphetamine drug-ring in Bangalore.
The Crackdown
A coordinated raid was carried out by officials of the NCB in Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru to simultaneously bust the major amphetamine drug business. A Bengaluru based research scientist, his wife, an accomplice Ravi Shankar as well as an Air Force Wing Commander posted with the IT Wing in Delhi, Rajasekhar Reddy, all key players were nabbed and were sent to custody.
Key players of the drug-ring
Venkat Rama Rao, a 35-year old Bengaluru-based research scientist was working with a reputed biotech company in the Electronic City and resided in a rented house with his wife. IAF Wing Commander, Rajasekhar Reddy and Venkat were allegedly classmates and had recently reconnected with Rao when he was posted in Bangalore. 21 year old, Ravi Shankar Rao's relation to the others is not known.
Widespread drug ring
The drug network operated out of a leased lab in Hyderabad. IAF Commander, Reddy was posted in Delhi but would travel to Hyderabad every weekend to make deliveries. He was key to the distribution network and supplied consignments to other brokers and distributors but not directly to customers. Venkat Rao would collect drugs from Hyderabad and traffic it to major cities in south India.
Overseas markets
Those arrested confessed to authorities that the amphetamine which was seized by the NCB was meant to be trafficked to other South East Asian countries like Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand and would also be sold in African countries and a few other Western countries.
