NCB seizes over 9,600-ltrs of chemical used to prepare heroin

Over 9,600-litres of a chemical, often used illegally to prepare heroin drugs, has been seized from Noida and three people have been detained in this connection, the NCB said Monday.

They said a team of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) sleuths raided a few locations in Noida and Ghazibad near here for over four days and that led to the seizure.

"Acetic anhydride is a chemical necessary for manufacturing heroin and its trade is regulated under the anti-narcotics law," the agency said.

The chemical is used as an acetylation agent to process morphine into heroin.

The chemical was kept in drums labelled as "lubricant oil" and hence it is suspected that it was meant to be diverted for preparation of heroin by concealing its identity.

"Three people, including a foreigner, have been detained for questioning," it said.