MD making unit busted in Mandsaur, several cops suspended

Indore: A crackdown by Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) Rajasthan on a clandestine mephedrone (MD) manufacturing unit in Mandsaur on Friday triggered action against local police personnel.Mandsaur SP Vinod Kumar Meena suspended Kachanara outpost in-charge Poornima Singh Sirohia and several other policemen on Saturday after questions were raised over policing in the area.The operation had led to seizure of over 21 kg of mephedrone, nearly half a kg of opium and large quantities of chemicals and laboratory equipment used in drug production.According to CBN release, the illegal lab was being run from an isolated room built on agricultural land in Lasudiya Ila village of Daloda tehsil. Acting on confidential inputs about synthetic drugs being manufactured at the site, teams from CBN Chittorgarh divisions I, II and III conducted extensive surveillance, mapped the area and identified the suspected location before carrying out the raid.CBN officials said that the area was considered sensitive due to its past record of law and order concerns, prompting Rajasthan teams to seek operational support from Madhya Pradesh unit. A preventive cell team from CBN Jaora later joined the operation.During the search, officials found a complete setup for manufacturing mephedrone, a synthetic party drug commonly known as MD. The team seized 21.189 kg mephedrone, 0.487 kg opium, 30.8 litres of hydrochloric acid and other chemicals, besides laboratory equipment, machinery and 10 bags filled with raw materials and manufacturing tools.Two persons found at the site were detained and later arrested under provisions of NDPS Act.