DCA raids unearth 10 units illegally producing alprazolam on city outskirts

Hyderabad: A slew of enforcement drives by the Drugs Control Administration (DCA) in Jan has led to the discovery of 10 units illegally manufacturing alprazolam in the city’s outskirts.

The action comes in the background of cops cracking down on alprazolam suppliers and drug peddlers facilitating its use in toddy to provide an extra high.

The raids were carried out on Jan 4 and Jan 5, and of the 10 illegal units four were operating in Bollaram industrial area including Sree Harsha Organics, Sodum Drug and Pharmaceutical Pvt Ltd, Enpair Pharma Ltd and Sakksa Pharma.

Some others manufacturing chemicals and drugs were found in Kazipally, Gaddapotharam, Pashamylaram, Kuppanagar and Gummadidala.

“DCA, Telangana, intensified surveillance on the chemical/intermediate factories in the state to detect unlicenced manufacturing of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and other general drugs in the factories. Surprise raids are being carried out at unlicenced manufacturing facilities with an objective to detect clandestine activities regarding ‘alprazolam’ and ‘tramadol’,” said DCA in an official statement on Tuesday.

Between July last year and Jan, DCA conducted 18 raids and seized spurious drugs, unlicenced stocks, samples for physicians and drugs meant for government.

Apart from alprazolam, unlicenced manufacturing of ‘diacerein’ and ‘dapoxetine hydrochloride’, both falling under the category of narcotic drugs, was also detected at two separate units in Bonthapally and Gaddapotharam villages in the city’s outskirts.