The Special Cell of Delhi Police has taken custody of three directors and two consultants from Aavkar Drugs Pvt Ltd, on a three-day transit remand. The five were arrested after the Ankleshwar firm was found to be manufacturing cocaine intended for distribution in Delhi.

The five men arrested have been identified as directors Ashwin Ramani, Brijesh Kotia, and Vijay Bhesania, and consultants Mayur Desle and Amit Masooria.

Authorities seized 518 kg cocaine — worth ₹5,000 crore — in Ankleshwar on October 13, after investigators found that the 770 kg cocaine seized in Delhi recently was manufactured there. 

A joint operation between Delhi and Bharuch police has revealed that the seized cocaine was being made to order and sent to Delhi. Officials tracked down the vehicles used to transport the drugs via their GPS systems.

The raid and subsequent seizure have thrown the Ankleshwar Industries Association into a tizzy. The industry body now plans to take action against firms involved in manufacturing chemicals. It also intends to submit a memo to the Drug-Controller General of India and Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB).

Exploiting loopholes

GPCB officials conducted their own raid at Aavkar after the joint operation between Delhi and Bharuch police. The body claims to have been unaware of the massive production of narcotics despite being supposed to monitor the production of each unit every 90 days.

This has raised questions regarding the GPCB’s negligence in monitoring the environmental standards followed by factories and companies at the Ankleshwar GIDC, where Aavkar is located.

Authorities also missed the fact that Aavkar was not licensed for pharmaceutical production. Food and Drugs Commissioner Administration Commissioner Hemant Koshiya said that the firm was supposedly engaged in making chemicals and intermediates. 

A chemical called acetic anhydride, costing only ₹150/kg, can be processed chemically to produce cocaine in just 30-45 minutes.

The chemicals worth ₹200-500 can be converted into drugs, fetching ₹1 crore per kg. Companies engage in illegal activities to gain huge profits.

The main ingredient – acetic anhydride – is controlled under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act of 1985, and requires a special licence from the Narcotics Control Bureau. Even those licensed to use it need to account for every gram. 

As the investigation continues, law enforcement authorities will be looking to identify and plug holes in the licencing process, while also looking into how an unlicensed company was able to procure such massive amounts of controlled substances with impunity.

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Gujarat turns drug hub as ₹5000 cr cocaine seized in Ankleshwar bust