Delhi Police Bust Multi-State Drug Racket, Seize 31 Kg Alprazolam Tablets; Three Arrested

The Tea on Today’s Law-and-Order Crackdown

Delhi Police have dismantled a major interstate psychotropic drugs network with the seizure of a massive consignment of Alprazolam tablets and the arrest of three accused. The operation highlights the growing scale of illegal pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution networks operating across state borders, exploiting medical supply chains and local pharmacies while posing serious public health risks.

What Was Recovered

Police recovered 31 kilograms of Alprazolam tablets, estimated to be around three lakh pills, a quantity far exceeding the commercial threshold defined under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. Officials noted that the legal commercial limit for Alprazolam is just 100 grams, underlining the gravity of the offence. Along with the tablets, investigators seized large quantities of packaging material, including aluminium foil printed with the drug name, PVC sheet rolls, rubber stamps carrying batch numbers and expiry dates, and the vehicle used for transportation. The recovery points to an organised and industrial-scale illegal operation rather than isolated peddling.

How the Accused Were Tracked

The arrests followed intelligence-based surveillance targeting drug traffickers active in the National Capital Region. Acting on specific inputs, police intercepted a car with an Uttar Pradesh registration number near the Nand Nagri Bus Depot and detained two suspects on the spot. Further investigation led to the arrest of a third accused linked to the ownership of the vehicle and the wider distribution network.

Who Is Involved

The arrested individuals have been identified as Shamim from Badaun in Uttar Pradesh, and Rajeev Sharma and Mohit Gupta from Bulandshahr. During questioning, investigators learned that the accused were part of a coordinated supply chain spanning Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and the NCR. Statements indicated that tablets were collected from illegal manufacturing units in Himachal Pradesh and supplied to pharmacies in multiple districts of Uttar Pradesh.

Inside the Supply Chain

According to disclosures made during interrogation, an illegal manufacturing unit was allegedly operating in Parwanoo, Himachal Pradesh, producing Alprazolam tablets for distribution. The drugs were then routed through intermediaries and supplied to medical stores in cities such as Bulandshahr and Agra. The involvement of a medical firm in the distribution chain raises serious questions about regulatory oversight and misuse of pharmaceutical channels.

Legal Action and Ongoing Probe

An FIR has been registered under relevant provisions of the NDPS Act, and further investigation is underway to identify additional members of the network, financial trails, and possible links to other regions. Police officials believe the racket may have wider reach than initially uncovered and have not ruled out more arrests.

Nation With Tea Take

When banned drugs move like factory products, it is no longer just a crime problem but a public health emergency. This bust exposes how deeply illegal pharmaceuticals can penetrate everyday supply chains.