DRI busts ephedrine manufacturing unit in Hyd; two held

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted an illicit drugs factory here and seized 179 kgs of ephedrine valued at over Rs 5 crore in the international market.
The agency also arrested two persons in this regard.
Based on specific intelligence, officers of the Hyderabad Zonal unit of the DRI conducted a search on the factory premises in Bollaram area yesterday and found that illicit drugs were being manufactured there, a DRI release said today.
The white powder recovered during the search later tested positive for ephedrine.
"A total of 179 kg ephedrine was recovered and it was seized under the provisions of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The international market value of the substance would be more than Rs five crore," it said.

According to the agency, two persons involved in the illicit manufacturing were arrested for possession of ephedrine and that further investigation is on.
Ephedrine is a chemical precursor used to produce the popular narcotic methamphetamine.