MD drug unit running from poultry farm in Ratlam busted, 4 arrested

Indore: In a late-night raid, Ratlam police busted an MD drug manufacturing unit operating from a poultry farm in Borkheda village and arrested four persons, including the kingpin Jamshed Khan alias 'doctor', who had been on the run from the police. Narcotics, precursor chemicals and equipment collectively valued at around Rs 80 lakh were seized from the factory.Ratlam SP Amit Kumar said that the action was carried out around 11.55 pm on Monday after receiving inputs about an illegal synthetic drug unit being run from a farm located on a hillock inside the village.The farm was cordoned off from all sides. Four men were found inside actively engaged in manufacturing MD using chemical processes. On seeing the police, they attempted to flee but were caught. The operation continued till around 9 am on Tuesday.Police recovered about 200 grams of MD valued at nearly Rs 20 lakh, gas cylinders, a stove, furnace, dryer machine, electric boards, plastic cans, steel trays, a churning machine and other processing tools, apart from three mobile phones. A MUV was also seized.The arrested persons were identified as Rais Khan (35), Yusuf Khan (45), Salim alias Raju Khan (40) and Jamshed Khan alias Seth (42), a resident of Devaldi in Rajasthan. A case has been registered against them under the NDPS Act at Piploda police station.During investigation, it was found that the poultry farm belonged to Salim alias Raju, while the manufacturing operation was masterminded by Jamshed Khan, who had been absconding in an NDPS case registered by Mandsaur police. He was hiding at the farm for the past three to four months and running the illegal unit with the help of the co-accused and a village watchman.Police said Jamshed alias Lala is an interstate drug manufacturer and supplier with multiple cases registered against him in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Within drug networks, he was allegedly referred to by a code name, ‘doctor', due to his expertise in synthesising MD.During preliminary questioning, the arrested persons disclosed that chemicals used in manufacturing were sourced from Pratapgarh in Rajasthan through suppliers identified as Arbaz and Sakariya. Investigators also found that nearly 3 kg of MD was supplied to a party just a day before the raid, pointing to an active distribution network.Police said the bust has exposed a larger organised drug manufacturing and supply chain, and efforts were underway to identify other members involved.