Ephedrine drug much-sought-after at rave parties

• It is not covered under NDPS Act
• 80% of arrested return to peddling after release
• A kg of ephedrine fetches `4-5 lakh in foreign market
• Many cos manufacture it illegally in Hyd

Hyderabad: Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB) has claimed to have busted a drug syndicate by arresting as many as 12 persons involved in manufacturing and smuggling more than 250 kgs of ephedrine and amphetamine – narcotic drugs. But the question haunting the NCB is how far this seizure helps in curbing the rising drug smuggling. The arrest and the seizure of this highly dangerous drug do not deter smugglers to continue the criminal activity.

One of the kingpins, named Fayz Ahmed Rasool Sheik, who was arrested twice in the past – first in Gujarat in 2010 and next in Maharashtra in 2012 – did not lead to dismantling of the gang led by him. Not less than 80 per cent of those convicted in drug-related offences get back to the illegal drug business after their release from jails.

Hyderabad emerged as the veritable transit point for drug peddlers smuggling consignments to Southeast Asian countries. Smugglers have also made the city a manufacturing hub for the drug. Ephedrine is a white powder, which is widely available in India, is being smuggled out to money-making markets in Southeast Asia through Chennai, according to NCB officials. One kilogram of ephedrine has a price tag of Rs 4-5 lakh in the international market, especially in Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan and Singapore.

The manufacturing of illegal drug is called 'clandestine chemistry' which means chemistry carried out in secret in illegal drug laboratories. "Ephedrine is readily available in India and trafficking is less risky compared to heroin which is a non-bailable offence, whereas ephedrine is not. The ephedrine has not come under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. This lacuna is being exploited by the smugglers," said a senior NCB officer "The awareness about the side effects of this narcotic drug is low. Even the regular police are not aware of the misuse of the white powder. It is a legal drug prescribed for respiratory disorders, but the ingredient can be prepared as a stimulant and as effective as heroin," the officer explained. Manufacturing of this illegal drug is being carried out through a plethora of venues. The white power which is purchased by a section of licenced companies are being diverted and smuggled out of the country through criminal organisations. Apart from it, the criminal gangs are carrying out the manufacturing activity by renting the sick units.

It may be recalled that a few units in Jeedimetla and other industrial areas in Hyderabad were raided and found manufacturing this dangerous drug. Drugs worth over Rs 33 crore were seized from Kopplem Pharma Chermicals at Jeedimetla in 2012.