Adulterated toddy racket exposed
A narcotics racket involving the supply of Alprazolam-laced toddy has been unearthed by the Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau (TGANB) following a coordinated crackdown across Kamareddy, Sangareddy and Nizamabad districts.
The operation was triggered by back-to-back hospitalisations in early April, where over 95 people in Kamareddy district fell seriously ill after consuming spiked toddy, said Director of TGANB, Sandeep Shandilya.
On April 8, more than 75 individuals from Nasrullabad mandal were hospitalised. A day later, another 20 from Gandhari mandal faced similar symptoms. 'Tests on their blood and urine samples confirmed the presence of benzodiazepines, including Alprazolam and Diazepam. These substances, typically used for treating anxiety and sleep disorders, are dangerously addictive and were being mixed into locally sold toddy,' explained the officer.
In response, the TGANB and local police launched raids on toddy shops. Two criminal cases were filed and four people were arrested. Around 1,087 grams of Alprazolam were seized, and field kits confirmed adulteration in the toddy samples. Investigations revealed that the accused only held licences for toddy tapping, not for compounding or distribution.
In Zaheerabad, based on surveillance, police arrested three individuals and seized 770 grams of Alprazolam along with ₹7.5 lakh in cash. The drugs were manufactured in an illegal lab located in Ahilya Nagar, Maharashtra. The TGANB passed on the intelligence, leading to a raid by Maharashtra's Srirampur policemen, who uncovered a massive factory. They seized 69.76 kg of Alprazolam valued at ₹17.44 crore and 338 kg of raw materials worth ₹6.76 crore.
Further leads brought the operation to Bodhan in Nizamabad district. On May 16, four suspects from Maharashtra were caught while delivering Alprazolam to a local contact. A total of 2.5 kg of the drug, a car, ₹2.5 lakh in cash and eight mobile phones were seized. Three other accused persons were identified but remain absconding. On May 27, another 30 kg of Alprazolam was seized from National Highway 65 near Omerga in Maharashtra, along with a four-wheeler.
The bureau urged people to report any suspicious toddy adulteration through the toll-free number 1908 or email tsnabho-hyd@tspolice.gov.in. Informants will be protected and rewarded appropriately.
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