Gujarat ATS arrests 2 more in Etomidate export racket, 22 kg of banned substance seized

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad has arrested two more persons and seized 22 kilograms of the banned psychotropic substance Etomidate in connection with an alleged racket involving the illegal export of the drug to foreign countries.

Officials said the case was registered on March 7 at the ATS Police Station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against individuals accused of exporting consignments of Etomidate powder from Mumbai airport to countries including Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.

According to investigators, the accused allegedly prepared false invoices and fabricated Customs clearance documents to ship the banned substance overseas. The consignments were reportedly mislabelled and misdeclared as products such as Aloe Vera powder and Ginopol-24 powder to evade detection.

Earlier, the ATS had arrested Nikunjbhai Hareshbhai Gadhiya (28), a businessman from Katargam, Surat, who resides in the Bharimata area of the city.

During the course of investigation, Police Sub-Inspector S R Chavda detained two more suspects – Chetanbhai Kanubhai Vavadiya and Bhautik Damjibhai Padmani – in connection with the case on March 8. 

Subsequent searches conducted at the offices of companies linked to the three accused led investigators to examine purchase bills and stock registers related to Etomidate. Officials said the records confirmed that the substance had allegedly been mislabelled and exported abroad under false declarations.

During questioning, Gadhiya allegedly revealed that on February 28 he had arranged to send six parcels with a total weight of 25.5 kg through air cargo to Malaysia. Of this, 22 kg was found to be Etomidate.

The parcels were examined in Mumbai by ATS officers using a Raman spectrograph drug detector kit, which confirmed the presence of the banned substance. Investigators said the parcels had been falsely declared as samples of Aloe Vera powder.

The seized Etomidate has been taken into custody as evidence, and further investigation is under way to identify other individuals involved in the alleged international trafficking network, officials said.