DRI busts international drug racket in Indore, seizes narcotics worth over Rs 100 crore

INDORE: In what seems to be the largest drug seizures in recent times, Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Wednesday busted an international narcotics smuggling racket and seized 9kg of fentanyl hydrochloride valued at Rs 110 crore in the international market.
Fentanyl hydrochloride, an opioid that is also used as a recreational drug, was being illegally manufactured in Indore and exported by the drug racket.DRI sources claimed that the links of the racket go to many foreign nations including Mexico.
A Mexican has also been identified by the DRI. The officials did not reveal if any arrests were made, but claimed that the thorough interrogation was on.
Among the locations raided by the DRI is a factory where fentanyl hydrochloride was being manufactured. Officials were clandestinely keeping tab on the operations of the gang and tracing the routes used to export the drug from Indore.
“A kilogram of fentanyl hydrochloride is equivalent to 10kg of heroin. The total cost of the seized drug is approximately Rs 100 crore in the international market,” an official said.
Fentanyl is an opioid used as a pain medication and together with other medications for anesthesia. Fentanyl is also made illegally and used as a recreational drug, often mixed with heroin or cocaine. It is a potent narcotic analgesic, abuse of which leads to habituation or addiction.