Drug bust India: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Friday busted a clandestine Alprazolam manufacturing facility laid in the Kondapalli Industrial Development area of Andhra Pradesh’s NTR district and seized drugs worth Rs 47 crore, officials said. According to officials, they also laid hands on two masterminds who had been running the unit, including a chemist with 20+ years of experience in the pharmaceutical and chemical sector. 

Two-day long operation unearths drug manufacturing setup

DRI officials said that they confiscated 237 kilograms of Alprazolam, a psychotropic substance regulated under the Narcotics, Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The raid was carried out under the codename ‘Operation White Hammer,’ which unfolded on March 11 and 12, 2026. It unearthed a fully functional industrial-scale facility, engaged in the production of the banned drug under the garb of a chemical manufacturing unit. The Ministry of Finance issued a press release, which read that the investigating officials uncovered a sophisticated setup equipped with reactors, industrial driers and a centrifuge used in the production. During the operation, the authorities seized 800 kilograms of raw materials, 2860 litres of various chemicals and other equipment used to manufacture the synthetic drug. 

Chemist with 20+ yrs of experience one of the masterminds

According to a preliminary probe, DRI officials said that the illegal operations were orchestrated by a chemist, who holds more than 20 years of experience in the chemical and pharmaceutical sector. He, as per officials, had partnered with an associate responsible for arranging raw materials and managing distribution networks, particularly in Hyderabad. Officials confirmed that both the masterminds have been arrested, and are being interrogated to ascertain the wider distribution network.

Authorities said that the accused duo had rented the factory premises to manufacture Alprazolam illegally. According to statistics released by DRI, they have dismantled eight clandestine drug manufacturing units through intelligence-led operations across the country during the current financial year.