The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Saturday busted two clandestine drug-manufacturing laboratories in Uttar Pradesh’s Greater Noida and seized drugs as well as related materials valued at close to Rs 45 crore, officials said. Union Home Minister Amit Shah lauded the agency’s action, calling the operation a ‘significant step’ in the country’s campaign against drug trafficking.

Codenamed Operation Crystal Hunt, the covert operation culminated in the arrest of two persons, including a woman, and the seizure of almost 100 kilograms of amphetamine-containing substances, besides a quantity of pseudoephedrine, as per a statement issued by the NCB on Saturday.

The accused have been identified as Destiny Abraham Dumbiri, who claimed to have hailed from Nigeria, and Lallawmzuali, also known as Olivia Lalchawimawiim, a native of Mizoram.

379 kgs of Amphetamine-containing material seized

The agency seized as much as 379.74 kg of amphetamine-containing materials in 3 forms; 4.26 kg of crystalline substance, 157.7 kg of semi-crystalline material and 217.78 kg of liquid substance. Officials said the NCB also ended up seizing 10 kgs of pseudoephedrine, a chemical precursor used in the manufacture of certain synthetic drugs.

As per the NCB’s estimates, the crystalline and semi-crystalline material could yield close to 56 kilograms of finished crystalline amphetamine, with an indicative market value of approximately Rs 45 crore.

Several other chemicals were also recovered during the operation, such as hydrochloric acid, toluene, sulphuric acid and potassium permanganate. According to the NCB, such substances are linked to the manufacture of methamphetamine.

Extensive laboratory equipment had been lodged on the premises, including large-capacity heating mantles, glass reaction vessels, chemical storage drums, filtration systems, weighing scales, respirators and other apparatus used for chemical processing.

Union Minister Shah praises intelligence-led operation

Reacting to the crackdown, Minister Shah said the busting of the two laboratories marked a significant milestone in efforts to dismantle illegal drug-manufacturing networks.

In an official ‘X’ post, the Home Minister shed light on the recovery of synthetic drugs, precursor chemicals and lab equipment, along with the arrest of two suspects, including a foreign national.

He termed the operation ‘an example’ of intelligence-led enforcement and reiterated the Centre’s commitment to dismantling drug cartels before December 2029 under the Vision Document on Narcotics Control 2026-2029, adopted as part of the Union Government’s mission for Nashamukt Bharat.